With metal from Malvinas war munitions incorporated into a work in gold, silver and bronze, Argentine jeweller Juan Carlos Pallarols is preparing a chalice as a gift for Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Argentina from November 8 to 11.
Pallarols, 83, one of the most recognised jewellers in Argentina, is working on the last details of a chalice which has taken him 10 months and to which he affirms thousands of people have contributed with tiny hammer blows.
"We are making it for him to deliver to him," assured the jeweller at his downtown workshop in the historic centre of Buenos Aires.
The smell of metal impregnates the atmosphere with complete and incomplete pieces of jewellery and tools littering the ground.
"It is a very complete workshop," he laughs.
Made of gilt silver, the chalice includes pieces of munitions used during the 1982 Malvinas war between Argentina and Britain.
Its base is ornamented with symbols of the three theological virtues: faith, hope and charity. It’s accompanied by a paten, the small liturgical plate holding up the communion wafer during Mass.
An electronic counter registers the interventions of those who participate in its elaboration.
"We have a pretty clear idea of the number of blows given this piece," says Pallarols, assuring that it was made "a million people" throughout Argentina.
His workshop occupies a room in an enormous 19th century mansion between gilt mouldings, candelabra, columns coated in bronze and a pot-pourri of historic objects.
There are silver bees posing on a stone of quartz, a replica of the sword of independence hero José de San Martín and huge books with covers chiselled in silver dedicated to the legendary racing-driver Juan Manuel Fangio.
A descendent of Catalan jewellers, Pallarols assures that the family tradition goes back to 1715 and that his forebears have been making chalices for Popes since the 19th century.
"My family has made a chalice for every Pope there was from the last 150 years until today," says Pallarols, as he walks around the workshop closely followed by Mingo, his inseparable dog.
Regalia for European royalty figures are among his works – such as a silver rose gifted to Argentine-born Dutch Queen Máxima – and numerous batons for Argentine presidents, although the tradition was interrupted with the current incumbent Javier Milei.
"Milei wanted to put his dogs on it," recalls a smiling Pallarols as he displays in his workshop the baton that was never delivered.
The jeweller refused to sculpt the dogs and Milei ended up with his baton made by another artisan.
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by Leila Macor, AFP
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