Chasuble of silk embroidered with coloured silk, laid and couched work, Spain, 1650-1700

From register 'T.43-1946 Front of chasuble with symmetrical pattern of scrolling leafy stems with tulips, carnations and other flowers. Embroidered in coloured silks chiefly in couched work and outlined in gold thread. Ground of white silk couched work. Narrow border of flower design at the neck. There is some raised work in the centres of the flowers and on the leaves. The chasuble is divided into compartmenst by bands of stiff braid now black although it was probably gold originally. Short fringe round three sides. Backed with canvas.
T.43A-1946 Back of chasuble with symmetrical pattern of scrolling leafy stems with tulips, carnations and other flowers and birds perched in the foliage. Embroidered in coloured silks chiefly in couched work and outlined in gold thread, on ground of white couched silk. Stiff bands of braiding subdivide pattern as at the front.'

Given by Lt. Col. E.C.Bacon, of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire in 1946.

This is the front of a chasuble, an ecclesiastical vestment worn by a priest when celebrating mass. The chasuble is decorated on both front and back with a symmetrical pattern of naturalistic scrolling foliage and flowers. Most of the decoration was created in coloured silks using an embroidery technique called couching, whereby thread is laid on the surface of the garment and stitched down at regular intervals. This method is particularly appropriate for working with metal thread, seen here outlining the design, because it maximises the quantity of thread that appears on the surface of the embroidery and also avoids having to push thick thread through the delicate ground fabric.

T.43&A-1946