This elaborate, two-part silver object is said to have been found in the ancient city of Antioch. It’s gilded and decorated with a scrolling grape vine, with animals and birds, including an eagle, inhabiting its branches. It has 12 figures, seated in high back chairs, holding scrolls. Look for the two most youthful figures. They are thought to be images of Christ. The others may be apostles or possibly classical philosophers, thought to have foretold Christ’s coming.

At first the inner cup was claimed to be ‘The Holy Grail,’ the cup Christ used at the Last Supper. Its owner showed it as ‘The Holy Grail’ at the 1933 Chicago World Fair, but this claim has never been substantiated. Although the complete vessel was once believed to have been used as a chalice for the Eucharist, its shape is now recognized as being like that of standing oil lamps of the period. It’s also been argued recently that the vessel came from the smaller Syrian city, Kaper Koraon, rather than Antioch.