Embroidered apparel for an alb, Italian, ca. 1300 - ca. 1399

Embroidered apparel for an alb. It is of linen, embroidered with silver-gilt and silver thread, coloured silks in split stitch, as well as laid and couched work in red velvet. The embroidery has been sewn down onto a piece of white linen with blue stripes. Around the edge of the velvet is attached a border of linen embroidered in split stitch and couched work with a chequered design in blue, grey and buff silks and metal thread (most of the metal thread has now dissapeared). In the corners are remains of small squares of black velvet embroidered with stars. The design of the main section of embroidery consists of five gothic arches under which stand five saints. All the saint figures are depicted with cloaks and haloes, which are worked in metal thread. In the triangular spaces above the arches are formal leaf motifs in yellow, blue, green and white and metal thread.

Purchased from J F de C Andrade

Registered File number 1963/507

There is an identical alb-apparel at Saint Bertrand de Comminges.

Apparels were bands used to decorate the sleeve-ends and hems of vestments worn by Christian clergy. On this example, five saints are shown beneath arches, each holds a book: St. Andrew, St. John the Evangelist, St. James the Greater, St. Bartholomew (who also holds a flaying knife), and St. Matthew. Latin inscriptions beside each figure further identify them. The linen design is embroidered in silver, silver-gilt and silk threads applied to red velvet.

T.92-1963