The Lacock Cup, which is now in the British Museum after being bought from St Cyriac’s Church for £1.3m, goes on public display at Salisbury Museum this spring.
Alongside it are three other medieval chalices from Wiltshire churches: the silver parcel-gilt, late 15th century chalice from St Mary’s Church, Codford; a 16th century silver gilt chalice from Wylye Church; and a 16th century silver gilt chalice and paten, or plate, belonging to St Margaret’s Church in Corsley.
The Lacock Cup is now on permanent display at the British Museum and Salisbury Museum is the first of five venues to exhibit it on a tour across England. It is hoped the exhibition will also visit Devizes Museum late in the year or in 2016.
The exhibition, Secular to Sacred: The Story of the Lacock Cup, from January 31 to May 4, also features objects from Salisbury Museum’s own collection and comparison pieces loaned to the museum for the show by private collectors and Salisbury Cathedral. These include the chalices from other churches. In the post-medieval period, Salisbury was an assay city and a centre for the manufacture of silverware.
