Chalice - Silver - Gioacchino Belli 1815-22

LITURGICAL CALICE IN SILVER
Gioacchino Belli
Rome, circa 1815–1822
Main attribution on the basis of the punchmarks, technical characteristics and stylistic approach

CATALOGUE DATA
Artist / workshop: Gioacchino Belli, main attribution
Place of execution: Rome
Chronology: circa 1815–1822
Object: Liturgical chalice
Material: Silver, with interior gilding
Technique: Plate work, turning, repoussé, chasing and gilding
Height: 26.5 cm
Cup diameter: 8.5 cm
Base diameter: 13 cm
Weight: 422 g
Punzoning: workshop punch G11B and papal sign post-1815, impressed in multiple points of the work
Condition: Good, with normal signs of use, oxidation; interior gilding preserved

DESCRIPTION
Elegant liturgical silver chalice, with harmonious and slender proportions, characterized by a refined neoclassical decorative scheme, in which the sobriety of the structure blends with an ornament repertoire of late-18th-century derivation.

The cup, of a slightly flared truncated-conical shape, presents at the lower part a continuous ornamental band consisting of lanceolate leaves, raised in repoussé and accurately finished in chasing. The decoration unfolds in a regular, orderly rhythm, enhancing the metal surface and emphasizing the transition to the undercup. A circular moulding, clear and well-marked, connects the cup to the underlying structure.

The undercup reiterates the ornamental language of the cup and introduces the transition to the stem through a calibrated sequence of moulded elements and circular fittings.

The stem, articulated in multiple turned and moulded elements, is built through a succession of circular profiles, fittings and swollen forms that give the whole a vertically balanced course. The vegetal decoration, together with the strict rhythm of the mouldings, highlights the neoclassical character of the piece.

The base, wide, circular and stepped, features a continuous ornamental band with lanceolate leaves and palmette motifs. The central field, smooth and slightly domed, creates an effective contrast with the decorated band and gives the base a visually solid yet elegant structure.

The interior of the cup is gilded, in keeping with the traditional liturgical use of the piece. The exterior surface bears a patina of use and widespread traces of handwork, particularly legible in the decorated areas, elements that contribute to the perception of authenticity and skilled craftsmanship of the work.

PUNZONATURA (HALLMARKS)
The chalice bears several marks, impressed on the cup, undercup and base, a circumstance of particular interest for identification and chronological framing of the work.

Among the marks is the workshop punch G11B, accompanied by the papal chamber mark introduced with the 1815 punch reform.

The presence of this system of marks constitutes an important chronological element and allows placing the artifact within Roman silverware dating from after 1815.

It should be noted that the G11B punch is documented in relation to Gioacchino Belli’s workshop and is reported as having been used also by his son Pietro Belli in the period shortly after the father’s death.

This circumstance theoretically allows dating the piece up to around 1825. However, in this specific chalice, the combination of stylistic and technical characteristics — the quality of the vegetal ornament, the neoclassical layout of the structure, the modulation of mouldings and the balanced relationship between decoration and architectural framework — makes a realization within Gioacchino Belli’s production more probable, and particularly in the period between 1815 and 1822.

Proposed attribution
Gioacchino Belli, main attribution
Rome, circa 1815–1822

HISTORICAL-ARTISTIC FRAME
The chalice fits into the Roman silverware production of the early 19th century, a phase marked by the progressive affirmation of the neoclassical taste, alongside the persistence of ornament motifs of late-18th-century origin.

The object’s structure, rigorously articulated through mouldings and geometric profiles, is enriched by a vegetal repertoire mainly consisting of lanceolate leaves and palmette motifs. The decoration does not overwhelm the architectural structure of the chalice but integrates harmoniously with it, according to a balance principle particularly significant for neoclassical culture.

The construction of the stem, the breadth of the base and the orderly rhythm of the different parts give the piece an elegant, solemn and liturgically functional character.

The quality of repoussé and chased work, together with turning of the structural elements and the interior gilding of the cup, indicate a high-quality artisanal production.

CONDITION
The chalice is in good condition, considering its age and intended use.

Normal signs of use, oxidation, as well as the natural traces of handwork, are present. The repoussé and chasing decoration remains legible and well preserved.

The interior gilding of the cup is preserved, retaining the recognizable original liturgical function of the object.