Hearst Chalice (jan 1, 1575 – jan 1, 1578)

Description:

The Hearst Chalice is a furnishing made of silver gilt, rock crystal, wood, and feathers, standing at 13 inches in height and 9 inches in diameter. As per Dr. Elena Fitzpatrick Sifford (Smarthistory), the exact date of the Chalice is unknown, but it is one of the most complex works of New Spanish silversmithing and Indigenous artistry in colonial world. As a Christian artifact, chalices were akin to the Holy Grail which Jesus Christ used during the Last Supper, later used by Joseph of Arimathea to collect Christ’s blood during the crucifixion. The Hearst Chalice is elaborately ornamented, with boxwood carvings of Biblical scenes with feather work backgrounds, rock crystal, and silver finishing. The Chalice represents a blend of European knowledge of Christianity with Indigenous craftwork, incorporating symbolic material from both cultures. For instance, the inclusion of feather work suggests Indigenous knowledge as the Mexica were known for their elaborate feathered clothing and art. Moreover, rock crystal is association with the patron god Huitzilopochtli and was believed to be a gift from the sun. To Europeans, rock crystal was highly esteemed and often used in liturgical objects. Thus, despite its unknown provenance, the Hearst Chalice is a testament to the mixing of Indigenous and European settlers in New Spain and could have been an object that gave an Indigenous artist the opportunity to combine their traditional practices and Christianity to curry favour with European elites.

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