Pair of Charles II Silver Communion Cups and Patens

These extremely rare 17th-century communion cups and patens were a part of the cherished communion plate at St. Alkmund's in Shrewsbury for over three centuries, embodying its rich and sacred history. The parish was likely founded in the 10th century by Queen Æthelflæd, daughter of King Alfred. These items were among their most important liturgical vessels, traditionally used to hold the Eucharistic bread and wine.

Crafted in the pre-Reformation style, these cups reflect a return to tradition during the Gothic Revival era. Their beautifully shaped knopped stems and matching patens exhibit the understated elegance favored by early English Protestants. The patens also function as covers, and each features a small hole at the center of the closed foot, suggesting previous mounting for display. Despite centuries of daily use, their condition remains remarkably preserved, a testament to the enduring resilience of silver and the lasting importance of these sacred vessels in religious practice and heritage.

Hallmarked "HR" London, 1683-84

Cups: 8 3/8" high x 4 1/4" wide x 4 1/4" deep
Patens: 1 1/2" high x 5" wide x 5" deep

Provenance:
St. Alkmund’s, Shrewsbury 1684-2008
Sale, Christie’s London, 25 November 2008, lot 270
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Red McCombs Collection, Texas
M.S. Rau, New Orleans