Paten

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A paten is a metal plate used to hold the communion bread during the celebration of mass. This silver-gilt 13th-century example was found in the grave of a bishop excavated at Whithorn Priory in Wigtownshire.

The paten has a shallow quatrefoil bowl engraved with the 'Manus Dei' (Hand of God).

The design on this example is usual among patens of the 13th century. A similar paten was found in the tomb of Archbishop Walter de Gray (d.1255) in York Cathedral.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-047-886-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1992.1837
• Date: 13th century
  
• Material: Silver gilt. Inscription: [Manus Dei within a circle st in a quatrefoil depression]
  
• Dimensions: 137 mm D x 16 mm depth
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Wigtownshire, Whithorn (Whithorn Priory, Grave 1)
  
• Event:
• Description: Engraved, silver gilt paten comprising a Manus Dei within a circle set in a quatrefoil depression, from Roy Ritchie's excavations at Whithorn Priory, Whithorn, Wigtownshire
  
• References:
  • Caldwell, D.H. (ed). Angels Nobles and Unicorns: Art and Patronage in Medieval Scotland. Edinburgh: NMS, 1982 
• Translations:
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