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Corporal Case

1450-1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This decorated box was used to hold the corporal. This is the linen cloth used by the priest with the chalice and paten during the celebration of Christian mass.

The velvet was made during the period 1400-1500, but the box may have been constructed later using a piece of velvet which had come from another source. High-quality textiles were often donated to the church to be made into vestments and ecclesiastical furnishings. It was an acceptable way of recycling expensive fabrics with patterns that were no longer fashionable.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Corporal Case
  • Painted Linen
  • Painted Linen
Materials and techniques
Silk velvet and fringe, linen, silver thread, painted vellum, braid
Brief description
Corporal case, the lid and sides covered in silk velvet.
Physical description
Lid and sides covered in silk velvet; base covered in blue linen. Silk fringe in blocks of blue, red and yellow, on a heading in chevron design in silver thread. Lined with plain cream linen. There is a painted vellum panel set into the lid, with border of flowers but blank centre; edge in pink and silver braid.
Dimensions
  • Square width: 27cm
Summary
This decorated box was used to hold the corporal. This is the linen cloth used by the priest with the chalice and paten during the celebration of Christian mass.

The velvet was made during the period 1400-1500, but the box may have been constructed later using a piece of velvet which had come from another source. High-quality textiles were often donated to the church to be made into vestments and ecclesiastical furnishings. It was an acceptable way of recycling expensive fabrics with patterns that were no longer fashionable.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
8327-1863

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Record createdDecember 2, 2005
Record URL
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