Rare altar liturgical service with ampoules and a small jar for purification. - Art Nouveau - Glass, Silverplated - 1850-1900

Rare altar liturgical service with vials and purification jar – Glass and silvered metal – IHS – Late 19th / early 20th century

Refined altar liturgical service,datable to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, composed of two liturgical ampoules, a purification jar with lid, and an oval ampoule tray to match.

The piece is mainly realized in transparent decorated glass and silvered metal, with rich eucharistic ornamentation. The quality of craftsmanship, the stylistic unity of the different elements, and the particular elegance of the proportions make it a very decorative and uncommon ensemble.

The two liturgical ampoules, traditionally intended for water and wine during the Mass, feature a pear-shaped glass body, a slender neck, a large curved handle, and a long pouring spout. They are closed with coordinated caps with a spherical handle.

The metal parts concern the spouts, handles, collars, and caps, while the glass is adorned with a dense decorative apparatus of volutes, floral motifs, arranged with notable balance on the surface.

On the body of both ampoules the Christogram IHS surmounted by a cross stands out, one of the most recognizable symbols of Christian tradition, enclosed within a circular ornamental frame. The same motif returns on the central container, creating a strong decorative continuity throughout the entire service.

In the center is placed the purification jar, a designation actually used in Italian historical-art catalogs for this type of ecclesiastical accessory. Specimens with this definition are documented in the General Catalogue of Cultural Heritage already in the 19th century.

The jar features a rounded glass body decorated, a base and rim in silvered metal, and an elegant domed lid topped by a small cross. The body also bears the IHS monogram, inserted within a continuous vegetal motif.

Completing the service is an elegant oval-shaped ampoule tray, with a wavy, shaped edge and a radiating-engraved bottom. The perimetral band reproduces the same silvered vegetal motifs present on the other elements, confirming the original concept of the entire set as a unitary service. The designation “ampoule tray” is also widely documented in cultural heritage catalogs.

Stylistically, the service presents typical characteristics of ecclesiastical production from the late 19th to early 20th century, with evident references to neorococo and historicist repertoires.

Particularly interesting is the comparison with a pair of ampoules preserved and cataloged as Neapolitan workshop, 1890-1910, made of blown glass with silver leaf applications and late Rococo taste volute decoration. The cataloged specimen measures 16 × 11 cm, dimensions very close to those of this service. The comparison suggests a similar chronological placement, though without permitting, in the absence of marks or documentation, a definite attribution to the same production area.

The same general definition of “ampoule service” is documented in museum catalogs for ensembles formed by tray and pair of ampoules, both in Italian and European contexts.

Dimensions
Ampoules: height about 13.5 cm, maximum width about 11 cm.
Purification jar: about 9.5 × 8 cm.
Ampoule tray: about 20 × 10 × 3 cm.

Condition
The service is overall in excellent condition for its age.
One of the two ampoules shows a neck lesion near the junction area, well documented in the photographs. The lesion is relatively inconspicuous within the whole, but is correctly reported for maximum transparency.
There are also normal signs of age and mild oxidation/patina on the metal parts, consistent with age and the nature of the object.
Otherwise the service maintains remarkable overall harmony, with clearly legible decorations, caps present, and the central jar complete with its lid and cross.

A piece of particular charm, suitable for a sacred art collection, ecclesiastical articles, or antique liturgical objects, but also highly decorative in classical, eclectic, or collector environments.

The photographs are an integral part of the description and show in detail characteristics, decorations, and condition.

Shipping will be carried out with particular care, protecting each glass component individually. Ankerior specializes in art logistics, with training at Palazzo Spinelli in Florence in packing, handling, transportation, and logistics of artworks