Not currently on display at the V&A

Table Cloth

ca. 1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Table cloth of white linen damask, woven with a representation of the Annunciation. The Virgin is on the right kneeling at a prayer-desk upon which lies an open book, above her head is the Holy Dove, and a scroll inscribed: 'ECCE ACILLA DNI FIAT MICHI SECUDU VERBU TUU:' She is turning towards the Archangel who stands on the left holding a sceptre and a scroll bearing the words: 'AUE GRACIA PLENA DNS TECU.' Upon the borders of the angel's robes are inscribed: 'SANC SANC MARIA', 'BENEDICTVS DOMINVS' and 'SCTS GABRIE.' Above appears the Almighty Father in a cloud. In the background, between the two figures is a lily-plant growing from a two handled vase (bearing the Sacred Monogram IHS), which stands upon a table; beneath are a cat and a mouse. Above and below are two horizontal bands containing the following lines (from the "Prose" for the second Vespers of the Purification: 'INVIOLATA + INTEGRA + ET CASTA + ES MARIA QUE ES EFFECTA FULGIDA CELI PORTA.' ('Ever virgin, untouched, and chaste art thou, O Mary, who hast become the shining gate of heaven.') At the top is an architectural canopy with pendants, and leafy festoons, the borders at the sides represent pilasters of Renaissance character, and at the bottom are two cupids holding a medallion, and dragons. 100 threads to the inch.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Linen damask
Brief description
Table cloth of linen damask, Flanders, ca. 1500
Physical description
Table cloth of white linen damask, woven with a representation of the Annunciation. The Virgin is on the right kneeling at a prayer-desk upon which lies an open book, above her head is the Holy Dove, and a scroll inscribed: 'ECCE ACILLA DNI FIAT MICHI SECUDU VERBU TUU:' She is turning towards the Archangel who stands on the left holding a sceptre and a scroll bearing the words: 'AUE GRACIA PLENA DNS TECU.' Upon the borders of the angel's robes are inscribed: 'SANC SANC MARIA', 'BENEDICTVS DOMINVS' and 'SCTS GABRIE.' Above appears the Almighty Father in a cloud. In the background, between the two figures is a lily-plant growing from a two handled vase (bearing the Sacred Monogram IHS), which stands upon a table; beneath are a cat and a mouse. Above and below are two horizontal bands containing the following lines (from the "Prose" for the second Vespers of the Purification: 'INVIOLATA + INTEGRA + ET CASTA + ES MARIA QUE ES EFFECTA FULGIDA CELI PORTA.' ('Ever virgin, untouched, and chaste art thou, O Mary, who hast become the shining gate of heaven.') At the top is an architectural canopy with pendants, and leafy festoons, the borders at the sides represent pilasters of Renaissance character, and at the bottom are two cupids holding a medallion, and dragons. 100 threads to the inch.
Dimensions
  • Length: 47.5in
  • Width: 30.75in
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 17919/1902. See also 85987/1902, 17921/1902 and 10291/1901.

The table cloth was found in an ornamental box with a silver seal bearing the arms of the Mellinge family of St. Olaves, a hamlet of Herringfleet, Suffolk, from whom both seal and cloth came to the Rev. Edmund Farrer, Rickingshall, Diss, who later sold it to the Museum.

It was exhibited at the Ecclesiastical Art Exhibition at Norwich in 1895 and is shown on p. 111 of the illustrated guide.
Production
Flemish
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
694-1902

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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