Silver chalice from the collection of the Preserve (in commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”)

Dear friends!

We present you a silver chalice from the collection of artistic metal of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”. This is an example of the amazing skill of Jacob Beckhausen, the artist-jeweler of the 17th century (KPL-M-850).

The iconography of the artwork is represented in six medallions with multifigured compositions. The images are executed in a metal embossing technique. In some parts the height of the bas-reliefs reaches 4-7 mm.

The Agony in the Garden composition is more often executed on the base of a chalice. This iconography differs from the usual images of this subject on chalices. Apparently, the picture by Dutch artist Adriaen van de Velde (1665) became an iconographic source for this composition.

Christ and Pontius Pilate and the Jubilus Kiss compositions are very rare subjects for chalices. The first one has an unusual character. He is depicted in the left corner, with his back to the viewer. The man is dressed in an elongated cape, from under which the puffy sleeves of a shirt with wide cuffs are visible. He is wearing a hat with narrow brims and has boots with small heels. The appearance of the man does not at all correspond to the historical time of the event.

There are another three compositions on the chalice base. Only one of them is in its “usual” place. This is the Carrying of the Cross. The other two representing the Crucifixion and the Resurrection are usually depicted on the bowl.

An interesting detail of the Resurrection composition is in the armor of the guards that are very similar to the armor of German cuirassiers of the 16th-17th centuries. Here the feature characteristic of the artist’s works is well noticeable. Some characters seem to “come out” of the composition, “crossing” the boundaries of the medallions.

The chalice has the city brand of Gdansk like all handicrafts made by Gdansk masters in 1689–1699 as well as the master stamp of Jakob Beckhausen, who worked in 1678–1705. We can make a conclusion that this piece of jewellery art of the 17th century from the Preserve collection was created at the same period.

The text was prepared by Olena Serhiy,

the Research Division for the Study of Artistic Heritage

Picture captions

Fig. 1. Jacob Beckhausen (1689–1699). Chalice. Gdansk. The late 17th century. KPL-M-850
Fig. 2 Jacob Beckhausen. Chalice. Gdansk. The late 17th century. Fragment of the Agony in the Garden Composition. 
Fig. 3 Adriaen van de Velde. The Agony in the Garden. 1665
Fig. 4 Jacob Beckhausen. Chalice. Gdansk. The late 17th century. Fragment of the Resurection Composition on the Chalice Base.