Ecclesiastical silver on show at Christ Church

Last month, this page looked at the collection of Irish silver held by the National Museum of Ireland in that institution's Collins Barracks premises. Another equally fascinating collection - albeit of more specialist interest - can now be seen in the restored crypt of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin.

These pieces form part of a recently installed exhibition of the cathedral's treasures, the latter also including a number of old manuscripts such as the early 14th century "Liber Niger" associated with Henry le Warr, prior of Christ Church in 1301 and the "Liber Albus" of some 200 years later, both of which contain copies of even earlier documents relating to the cathedral, its origins and construction.

However, other than books, the oldest items on display come from the Christ Church collection of silver, not least a chalice with hexagonal base and broad lip rim and its accompanying paten. These were made in Dublin by William Cooke in 1640 for the since-disappeared church of St John the Evangelist on nearby Fishamble Street. Cooke, who served as churchwarden of St John's, was the first master of the Company of Goldsmiths at the time of its inception in 1639 and created this piece from two earlier vessels at a cost of £7 and 14 shillings, which included the price of a protective case; his name is inscribed on the base which formerly featured that of another churchwarden, Clement Martyn, a brewer on Wood Quay.

Christ Church Cathedral also possesses a second chalice and paten similar in style to those made by William Cooke, even though they were produced by John Humphries some 45 years later. Again once belonging to the church of St John the Evangelist, the pieces were obtained by the church around 1685-86.

A second instance of one piece being duplicated at a later date can be found in the cathedral crypt, as a substantial chalice and paten made in London by Robert Smythier in 1683 was almost precisely copied in 1777 by William Homer of Dublin. Both have always belonged to Christ Church, the first being donated to the cathedral by John Parry, Bishop of Ossory.

The most important items in the cathedral's collection make up the Royal Plate, donated by William III in the late 1690s after Christ Church, which had temporarily reverted to Roman Catholic services during James II's brief reign, once again served as the Chapel Royal of the Church of Ireland. It retained this function until 1814 when a new Chapel Royal was built to the designs of Francis Johnston inside the grounds of Dublin Castle to which the plate was duly despatched and where the pieces remained up to the early 1920s. Restored to the cathedral and now on display, the silver gilt plate - including two candlesticks by William Denny and John Burke, as well as two flagons, a chalice and cover, a large paten, a big plate decorated with a scene representing the supper at Emmaus and an alms dish - are English but well worth inspecting for their high baroque decoration in which cherubs are found in abundance.

Nothing else among the cathedral's treasures matches this florid style. Nonetheless there is plenty to examine and appreciate, such as a flagon presented by Sir Patrick Dun to St Michan's Church around 1696. This was made by David King, whose son Dr James King would become curate of St Bride's Church and a close friend of Jonathan Swift, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral. Dr King is represented in Christ Church by a handsome silver corkscrew made for his church by an unknown silversmith in 1736; it carries his name and that of the church's two wardens. On Bride Street, the building was reconstructed in 1684 but united with St Werburgh's almost 200 years later and demolished in 1898. Its organ is preserved in the National Museum.

Also worthy of notice in the cathedral crypt are several smaller 18th century items in silver, among them a sugar sifter made in Dublin by Jacob West around 1770; seemingly used in St Werburgh's as a wine skimmer, this is an example of a secular piece being given an ecclesiastical function.

Just as charming is an early 18th century miniature chalice and paten made by Erasmus Cope, a silversmith who was churchwarden of St Werburgh's. The set's diminutive scale and simplicity of design is explained by the fact that it was used by clergymen visiting the homes of parishioners too ill to come to church. In 1837, the chalice and paten were stolen from St Werburgh's but later recovered; the thief was also caught and for his troubles sentenced to be transported for seven years. Thankfully, both such thefts and punishments are unlikely today.

The Treasures of Christ Church are on display in the cathedral's crypt from 9.45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, from 9.45 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. on Saturday and from 12.30 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. on Sunday. For further information, telephone 01-6778099.