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Chasuble

1300s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Iranian silk used for this chasuble may be the type of textile known in Europe as panno tartesco (tartar cloth). There are several references to such textiles with a design of pelicans, a symbol of self-sacrifice in Christian art, in 14th century Eruopean church inventories.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
tabby weave silk, silk and silver gilt embroidery on linen
Brief description
the silk Iranian, blue and gold, depicting pelicans and deer, the embroidered orphreys Italian, depicting male and female saints, 1300s
Physical description
The main silk : the pattern of pelicans and deer woven in tabby on a 5-end satin ground. The embroidery : silver-gilt and silver thread in couched work, and coloured silks in split stitch, on linen, depicting apostles, saints and angels.
The present construction of the chasuble, using the main silk on its side, is not earlier than the 16th century, the date of the smaller pieces of silk surrounding the neck opening.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 1.34kg
  • Height: 115cm
  • Width: 71cm
Object history
From the collection of Attilio Simonetti, auctioned in Rome in 1883.
Summary
The Iranian silk used for this chasuble may be the type of textile known in Europe as panno tartesco (tartar cloth). There are several references to such textiles with a design of pelicans, a symbol of self-sacrifice in Christian art, in 14th century Eruopean church inventories.
Bibliographic references
  • Anne E. Wardwell, "Panni Tartarici: Eastern Islamic Silks Woven with Gold and Silver (13th and 14th Centuries)", Islamic Art 3 (1989) pp.95-173: fig.62.
  • Otto von Falke, Kunstgeschichte der Seidenweberei (Berlin: Ernst Wasmuth, 1921) fig.287
Collection
Accession number
594-1884

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Record createdJanuary 11, 2008
Record URL
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