An Armenian Gold-Plated Silver Chalice, Turkey, dated 1177 in the Great Armenian era (1728 AD)

the long splayed, faceted foot with a lobed base, the body composed of three globular knobs surmounted by a deep round cup, plainly gold plated on the interior, the external surface with engraved and gilt decoration including arabesques containing floral stems on the cup, a row of floral scrolls to central knob, stylised cypress tress on each facet of foot, with an Armenian inscription along sloping edge of the foot

In fairly good condition, one small crack near rim of cup, minor knicks and scratches to body, slight tarnishing near base, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscriptions

In Armenian:

ՍԿԻՍ Յ[Ի]Շ[Ա]Տ[Ա]Կ Է ՄՂԴՍԻ ՄԻՐԶԻՆ ԵՒ ՈՐԴՈՅՆ  ԱՏՈՄԻՆ ՄԱՐՏԻՐՈՍԻՆ ՅԱԿՈԲԻՆ  ՈՐ ԵՏ Ի ԴՈՒՌՆ ՄԵԾՈՊԱՅ ՍՈՒՐԲ ԱՍՏՈՒԾ ԱԾՆԻՆ ԹՎԻՆ ՌՃՀԷ ԹԷ ԿԱՄԻ ԾԱԽԻՆ ԱՆԷԾՔ ԿԱՅԵՆԻ ԱՌՆԷ

Skis yishatak e mghdsi Mirzin ew [v]ordoyn Atomin Martirosin Yakobin or et i  dourn  Medsopay Sourb Astouadsadsnin tvin RCHE te kami dsakhin anedsk Kayeni arne

[The] Chalice is in memory of mahdesi Mirzin and his son Atom, Martiros [and] Yakob which was laid at the door of the [church] of Holy Virgin Mary [Theotokos] in Medsopay in the year 1177, he who dares to sell will be subject  to the curse of Cain [Genesis 4:vv.11-12].

The dating in the Great Armenian era is 1177 with the differential of 551 = 1728 AD.

Medsobk' is situated in Tourouberan in Greater Armenia. The Holy Church of the Virgin Mary was located within the walls of the Monastery of Medsopa  which was built in 1120 AD, restored in 1402-1409 and represents a significant religious and cultural centre.

A similar chalice with a long globular neck and Armenian inscriptions along the body is now in the Vank Museum, Isfahan (inv. no.83) (illustrated in Canby 2009, p.66, no.24).