Chalices

A chalice is a ceremonial drinking vessel, typically a stemmed cup with a bowl, base, and supporting stem. In many traditions, chalices are set apart from ordinary drinking vessels by their ritual function and symbolic meaning, and they are used in religious ceremonies and formal occasions.

Shape and decoration vary widely. Chalices may be simple or elaborate, and their bowls range from slender to broad, depending on tradition. The term typically denotes a vessel used for ceremonial wine, but it can also refer to ornate cups used in weddings, coronations, or other formal ceremonies.

Materials include precious metals such as silver and gold, commonly with enamel or gem embellishments; other chalices are made of glass, ceramic, or carved wood. Many liturgical chalices are gilded or lined with another metal to resist wine corrosion and to indicate sanctity.

In Christian contexts, the chalice holds wine that is consecrated as the blood of Christ during the Eucharist, a central rite of Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches. Because of its sacred role, chalices are subject to specific custodial and liturgical requirements and are often treasured as heirlooms.

Today chalices appear in museums and church treasuries as historical objects and in some communities for regular worship. Care and conservation emphasize preventing corrosion, preserving inscriptions, and maintaining structural integrity for use in ritual or display.