Chalice, said to have belonged to Gilles de Walcourt, and paten

These two works are amongst the oldest recorded as having been made by Hugo. They would have belonged to Gilles, the founding father of the priory, and made to celebrate the consecration of the high altar, which took place in January 1228, in the presence of Jacques de Vitry. On the foot of the chalice we can see Christ on the Cross, the Virgin and Saint John.

Hugo explicitly signed some of his works, which is somewhat unusual in silverwork of the Middle Ages. His name appears in the nielloed and engraved inscription on the edge of the chalice foot, also confirming that the object belonged to the priory: + HUGO ME FECIT: ORATE PRO EO: CALIX ECCLESIE BEATI NICHOLAI DE OIGNIES: AVE (« Hugo made me. Pray for him. The chalice of the Blessed Church of Saint Nicholas of Oignies. Hail! »). Hugo may also have been the donor.

A paten is a small plate on which is placed the communion bread that will be consecrated by the priest during the Eucharist.