This chalice is an extremely rare survival. It is similar to other pre-Reformation chalices including one in Clonfert Cathedral, Galway, known as the ‘Matheus Macraith’ chalice (P. Egan, ‘Clonfert Museum and its Collections’, Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 27, (1956/1957) pp.33-76, especially pp.37, 41-43). Other examples include two in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin: the ‘De Burgo-O’Malley Chalice’ and the ‘Kirwan Chalice’ – the latter recently purchased by the National Museum of Ireland, (bought prior to auction in 2019 with a pre-sale estimate €20,000- €30,000).
The chalice is a rare survival from before the Protestant Reformation (1541-1598). That Henry VIII’s religious reforms in Ireland in some cases did not go much further than The Pale, the area immediately surrounding Dublin, may account for the survival of much pre-Reformation plate.
Dr Edith Andrees of the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin has suggested the chalice may been made in or around Cork, noted that the circular spreading foot is unusual. The rivet holes to the foot may indicate a lost mount of an image, inscription or corpus.
Wilson Rae-Scott was a financier from Chiswick, London, and a collected silver and works of art in the years before the Second World War.
We are grateful to Philippa Glanville OBE, FSA, former Chief Curator of Metalwork, Silver and Jewellery Department of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and Dr Edith Andrees of the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin for kindly assisting with the cataloguing of this lot
