Chasuble and orphrey, 1434-1446, Italian velvet with English embroidery

Chasuble of crimson pile velvet, embroidered with silver-gilt and silver thread, and coloured silks, in split stitch and couched work on linen. On the orphrey are two identical shields of arms, each bearing the impaled arms of Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, and his wife Cicely. The orphreys show the crucifixion of Christ with God the Father above, angels with heraldic shields, and saints.

In each case the impaled arms bear:

Dexter (right) for Henry - Quarterly: 1, BEAUCHAMP (Gules, a fess between six cross-crosslets or); 2, CLARE (Or, three chevrons gules); 3, LE DESPENSER (Quarterly argent and gules fretty or, a bendlet sable); 4, NEWBURGH (Chequy or and azure, a chevron ermine)

Sinister (left) for Cicely - Quartlery: 1 and 4, MONTAGU (Argent, a fess of fusils gules) quartering MONTHERMER (Or, an eagle displayed vert); 2 and 3, NEVILLE (Gules, a saltire argent, a label of three points compony argent and azure)

Each shield is held by an angel and flanked by (right) A bear argent, muzzled, collared, and chained gules, to a ragged staff argent, and (left), A griffin or - but here possibly per fess or and argent. The bear and ragged staff were Beauchamp badges, whilst the griffin was used by Montagu in various ways.

The Revd E. Moore of Spalding (Lincolnshire), documented 1849 and 1866; Ralph Coker Adams- Beck, 1905; purchased by the V&A at the auction of the contents of Bookham Lodge (Surrey), 1907

The shield of arms on the cross orphrey denotes that the chasuble belonged to Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick (who died in 1445) after his marriage to Lady Cecily Neville in 1434.

The chasuble is the main vestment worn by a priest when celebrating Mass. This example is of great historic interest as the orignal owner, the Duke of Warwick (d.1445), can be identified by the heraldic devices on the coats of arms applied to the orphreys.

Chasubles and other church vestments made of rich and fashionable materials were often used to symbolise the status of the owner or donor, as in this case, as well as to show his or her devotion to the church.

402-1907