Pair of Holy Oil Vessels
Castile
Pair of Holy Oil Vessels, before 1640
Silver
Each: H.: 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm), diam.: 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem
© The Frick Collection
Small vessels like these were meant to contain the chrism (oil blessed on Holy Thursday and used for the sacraments of baptism and confirmation) and the oil for the catechumens (used for exorcisms). Both are decorated with the royal arms of Spain and the crosses of Jerusalem.