England, London / 1671–72
Communion Cup
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Communion Cup as silver (England, London · 1671–72).
The words engraved along the exterior of this cup, "My Bloud is Drinke indeed,” refer to Christ’s instructions during the Last Supper, as described in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this silver as silver gilt.
The museum's collection notes: This cup was produced shortly after the death of Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658), a leader of the English Civil War and Lord Protector of the British Isles from 1653 to 1658. An intensely religious man, Cromwell believed that the Reformation (1517–1648) failed to sufficiently eliminate Catholic beliefs and practices in Great Britain. The simplified shape and design of this vessel reflects his desire to visually differentiate Protestant communion cups from the chalices used by the Roman Catholic Church.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtCommunion CupOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.