Silver Paten of Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) - Silversmith Angelo Giannotti, circa 1846

Silver paten for the "Hostia Magna" or "Liturgical Chalice," produced by Vatican silversmith Angelo Giannotti (1824-1865) for Pope Pius IX.

At the center of the paten, meticulously engraved in every detail, is the papal coat of arms of Pope Pius IX, which was in use from June 16, 1846, until his death on February 7, 1878.

The edge is richly decorated in high relief with "vine shoots" and "grapes," which, as described in the Gospel of John 15:1, represent the bond between Jesus and his disciples and faithful, from whom they draw the lifeblood of salvation: "I am the vine, you are the branches."

It is difficult to establish with absolute certainty whether this is a paten for a "Great Host" or for a "Liturgical Chalice" since grapes are a recurring symbol in Christian symbolism during the Eucharist, both in comparison to the chalice of wine as taken from the Gospel of Luke 22:19-20: "This is the chalice of my Blood, of the new and eternal covenant, which will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven", and as a support for the larger consecrated host, called the "Great Host", intended for the celebrant.

The edge bears the punch stamp in force in Rome from 1815 to 1870 and the hallmark of the Roman silversmith Angelo Giannotti, who used it from 1824 to 1865.

The Paten weighs 335 grams and has a diameter of 23 cm.

Pope Pius IX (Latin: Pius PP. IX, born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; Senigallia, May 13, 1792 – Rome, February 7, 1878) was the 255th Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, and the 164th and last ruler of the Papal States from 1846 to 1870.

His pontificate, lasting 31 years, 7 months, and 23 days, remains the longest in the history of the Catholic Church after that traditionally attributed to Saint Peter.