The Chalice of the Black Madonna and The Lady Flavia Ciborium

designed by the Most Rev. Jon Ryner, S.O.B.V.M.

It seems eminently fitting that these pieces should prominently feature crystal, so beloved of the Celtic Church and insanely feared by the Romans. (For details of this, see Lady Flavia Anderson's .) It is also fitting that these sacred vessels should be crafted of parts which were cast off by both former religious and secular owners. They will surely be unique, awe-inspiring, and cost a small fraction of similar new or commissioned pieces. We'll post new photos as we get the pieces put together.

The Chalice of the Black Madonna

Phase 1

The base is an old metal lighter with a marble base, a faceted grey crystal ball and appears to be gilt. It's quite heavy, but the knop and crystal make it handleable. We'll run something through the center to hold the cup assembly to the base.

The handhammered gilt sterling cup measures 4 inches across and ca. 4 inches high. The cup holder measures ca. 6" across. The cup holder has a hole in it, but the chalice doesn't, so we'll have to solder something.

Phase 2

Replace the glass pieces in the cup holder with real gems.

Exchange this cup for a plain one (not hammered) and engrave on it a band around it containing a Tolkien Elvish script with a suitable text:

1) "Consider the the lilies of the field, how they grow..." (Mat. 6:28)
2) "Mysterium Fidei" (1 Ti. 3:9, Canon of the Mass)
3) "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD." (Ps. 116:13)
4) "This is my Blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Mat. 26:28)
5) "But my horn shalt Thou exalt like an unicorn; I shall be anointed with fresh oil." (Ps. 92:10)
6) "He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn." (Ps. 29:6)

Solder a small gold or gilt jeweled equal-armed cross to the base.

(Original, now Obsolete Plans)

The Stem

There were to have been Gothic windows to compliment those on the bottom of the chalice holder.

The Knop

This was to be a sphere or a flattened sphere with a hole in it. It was to have had rosettes around it holding gemstones.

The Lady Flavia Ciborium

These pieces get used as the base for a complimenting ciborium, named for Lady Flavia Anderson, who wrote a quite interesting work on the Holy Grail. The holes in the "skirt" will eventually hold small gemstone beads.