Paten

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:	0098: 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
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