Chasuble thumbnail 1
Chasuble thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Chasuble

ca. 1888 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a chasuble designed by one of the leading church architects of the day, inspired by Medieval forms both in the shape of the chasuble and in its decoration. The Chasuble is worn by a priest at Mass and it is the back of the vestment that is seen by the congregation during worship. Therefore the back orphrey is usually the most highly decorated part of the vestment and the composition seen needs to be clearly visible from the main body of the church. The high quality of the cloth of gold woven ground and the range and skills of polychrome silk embroidery shows this example to be a special commission. It was also a labour of love for the nuns of the order who made and embroidered the chasuble in their convent workshops.

It was designed especially for use on the high altar in the convent chapel of The Sisters of Charity in Bristol and stayed within the order until it was given to the museum.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Woven silk ground embroidery in polychrome silks in a variety of stitches including long and short, feather, couched silver gilt thread, seed, pearly and applied gold braid
Brief description
Chasuble, woven silk, designer J.D. Sedding, makers Sisters of Charity, Bristol, ca. 1888
Physical description
Chasuble of cloth of gold in traditional pomegranate design with y shaped back orphrey embroidered in silks showing the Crucifixion with angels and, on the front, trumpeting angels and stylised floral motifs. The orphreys are edged with a repeating embroidered floral design and woven gold braid.
Dimensions
  • Back, top to hem height: 102cm
  • Minimum width: 43.5cm
  • Weight: 1.6kg
Style
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by the Sisters of Charity
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a chasuble designed by one of the leading church architects of the day, inspired by Medieval forms both in the shape of the chasuble and in its decoration. The Chasuble is worn by a priest at Mass and it is the back of the vestment that is seen by the congregation during worship. Therefore the back orphrey is usually the most highly decorated part of the vestment and the composition seen needs to be clearly visible from the main body of the church. The high quality of the cloth of gold woven ground and the range and skills of polychrome silk embroidery shows this example to be a special commission. It was also a labour of love for the nuns of the order who made and embroidered the chasuble in their convent workshops.

It was designed especially for use on the high altar in the convent chapel of The Sisters of Charity in Bristol and stayed within the order until it was given to the museum.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
T.65-2004

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Record createdSeptember 20, 2005
Record URL
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