The Museum of the Ways of Gaudí Palace presents chalice with overcup by the goldsmith from Asturias Alonso Portillo as the ‘Piece of the Month’ for February 2025.
An example of the excellent goldsmithing from Astorga that developed from the 15th to the 18th century, this chalice from Bierzo has a semi-oval cup with an inscription near the mouth (“calycem salu acypy acypy ad:nomen:domyne:invocavo”) with a base decorated with openwork gallons and alternate elongated leaves. Hexagonal shaft, with edges converted into buttresses and pinnacles. On the faces there are half-body figures, nielloed and enameled, representing New Testament characters. Hexalobulated foot, ogee profile, wide flange and high rim with arches. The pedestal is solved with oak leaf tabs. The overcap is identical to the cup.
The punch of the magnificent goldsmith from Asturias, Alonso Portillo, is stamped on the flange. This artist shows in this piece and in others such as the chalice of the cathedral of Astorga his great quality, with his own decorative and structural solutions, which distinguish them from other Castilian works of this period.
The Gaudí Palace is open from Monday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm and in the afternoons from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The piece will be on display throughout the month of February on the second floor of the Palace and will be moved at the end of the month where it will remain on display until the end of the year, with the rest of the works highlighted throughout this year 2025.