Museum Paper
Student Name: Darren Le
The Antioch Chalice
Date: 500–550
Dimensions: Overall: 7 11/16 x 7 1/16 x 6 in. (19.6 x 18 x 15.2 cm) foot: 2 15/16 in. (7.4 cm)
Type: Chalice
Medium: Silver, silver-gilt
Culture: Byzantine
Accession Number: 50.4
Source: The Met museum of Art
The Lotiform Chalice
Date: ca. 945–664 B.C.
Dimensions: h. 14.5 cm (5 11/16 in)
Type: Chalice, cup, Lotiform, relief
Medium: Faience
Repository: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Period: Third Intermediate Period
Culture: Egyptian
Accession Number: 26.7.971
Source: The Met museum of Art
Two Chalice of Different Empires
A formal comparison has been made between two types of chalices created during different periods and by different realms. The Antioch Chalice (500–550) of the Byzantine Empire and The Lotiform Chalice (ca. 945–664 B.C.) of Ancient Egypt depict two different methods of construction and manufacturing, and at the same time have the similar approach to vessel artwork. Antioch Chalice is a piece of silverware, and Lotiform Chalice is made of earthen materials, which is a kind of pottery. Lotiform is an Egyptian colored pottery relief pottery, an art style that prevailed in the Third Intermediate Period (1069 BC-664 BC). The Antioch chalice is one of the oldest silver-gilt Christian arts reported by historians. The metalworking and design techniques are extraordinary. They explicate the shift from Hellenistic style to the naturalized style found in the Late Antique period. Furthermore, its novel and ingenious design depicts how Christian ideals began to expand in Western Europe. The color of the Lotiform vessel is blue-green, which is the most widely used color on pottery in the mid-20th century. This green color is done by using quartz and calcite lime-based glaze. The blue-green color reaffirms the connection to water, reeds, rivers, lotuses, aquatic animals, and people. That color also mimics the expensive mineral lapis lazuli, which is said to have life-giving potential. The etching image depicts fish, lotus and papyrus. The vessel’s images likely portray sagas encircling the flooding of the Nile, which was of acute economic and spiritual relevance to the ancient Egyptians.
The Antioch art carved is somewhat similar to the Lotiform art. Like the Lotiform Chalice, the Antioch Chalice also has lotus petals carved at the base of the
with a palm wreath on the bulb of the short stem. A row of rosettes and one star surrounds the periphery of the shell. There is an open lotus flower on the base of the outer shell, with the upper areas containing a fruited grapevine wrought into twelve loops containing a figure. The fruited grapevine forms the Rinceau design of gilded shells, inhabited by animals such as birds, lambs and rabbits, as well as twelve human figures with scrolls sitting on high chairs. Two of these characters are considered to be images of Christ. The other ten are identified as apostles or philosophers of the classical age who foretold the coming of Christ like the prophets of the Old Testament. An elaborate footed shell surrounding it is believed to have been made in the century after Christ’s death to honor the grail.
The bodies of both the vessels, Antioch and Lotiform, are originally ovoid, and the original shape got distorted at some point in time. When Antioch was found, the chalice was covered in heavy oxidation, which had to be scrubbed off during the repair process. Internal corrosion makes the inner cup extremely brittle. The Lotiform Chalice got disintegrated, and in 1070-664 B.C., the trophy was reconstructed from eight fragments. The second Lotiform chalice was repaired, pieced together from pottery fragments, depicting a scene in which the god Hapi provided palm ribs and a scepter to the ruler of Egypt. The gifts OF shape of ankhs are designed to provide good luck and immortality to the recipient. Except for auctions and museum acquisitions, the provenance of Lotiform Chalice is not recorded. Its apprerance assumed that these were simply used as lotus flower oil or perfume holders. The cup was used to serve drinks based on its shape. Some also relate Lotiform chalice with cosmetic goods and toiletries as Egyptians often used lotuses to decorate toilet items. Even for the Antioch Chalice, there is no factual information of discovering the vessel.
However, this trophy is represented Christian themes and ideals and served as an icon for the Holy Trinity’s worship during the Byzantine Empire. Identification and the authenticity of the Antioch Chalice as Holy Grail have also been challenged. Its discovery considered a 6th-century chalice with its shape resembling the standing lamps used for decorating in that era. Additionally, its period also claimed to be a part of liturgical objects treasures found in 1908 relating to the Saint Sergios church in the southeast of Antioch. that these were simply used as lotus flower oil or perfume holders. The cup was used to serve drinks based on its shape. Some also relate Lotiform chalice with cosmetic goods and toiletries as Egyptians often used lotuses to decorate toilet items. Even for the Antioch Chalice, there is no factual information of discovering the vessel. However, this trophy is represented Christian themes and ideals and served as an icon for the Holy Trinity’s worship during the Byzantine Empire. Identification and the authenticity of the Antioch Chalice as Holy Grail have also been challenged. Its discovery considered a 6th-century chalice with its shape resembling the standing lamps used for decorating in that era. Additionally, its period also claimed to be a part of liturgical objects treasures found in 1908 relating to the Saint Sergios church in the southeast of Antioch. In conclusion, this is a formal comparison between two types of cup created during different periods and by different empires. The Antioch Chalice of the Byzantine Empire and the Lotiform Chalice of Ancient Egypt depict two different approaches of construction and manufacturing while having a similar approach to vessel artwork. Antioch Chalice is a piece of silverware, and Lotiform Chalice is made of earthen materials, which is a kind of pottery. In terms of Art history, these two Chalices and the artworks may not be as significant as the Holy Chalices. Nonetheless, the expressions, stylized illustrations, and exquisite
craftsmanship on the two vessels indicate the flow of ideas and the spread of culture over the centuries.
References
The Antioch Chalice. History 2701 Wiki. (n.d.).
https://history2701.fandom.com/wiki/The_Antioch_Chalice.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Lotiform Chalice. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/548339.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Antioch Chalice. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468346.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2020, August 9). Lotiform vessels (Metropolitan Museum of Art). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotiform_vessels_(Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art).
Lotiform Chalices. Amarna Princess. (2014, January 23). https://amarnalover.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/lotiform-chalices/.
