Chasuble thumbnail 1
Chasuble thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Chasuble

mid 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Chasuble made of crimson velvet, which pattern is achieved by covering the areas that would otherwise be left voided (clear of the pile warp, with the ground weave clearly visible) with supplementary (brocading) gilt-metal weft. The main motifs are additionaly enriched and enchanced by creating the boucle loops with the supplementary (brocading) weft. The orphreys are linen embroidered with gilt metal and polychrome silks in split stitch and couched work, additional seed pearl decoration.

The orphreys are embroidered with pairs of saints beneath elaborate architectural canopies. Unidentified prophets are paired with saints including St Simon, St Bartholomew, John the Evangelist, St Andrew, St James the Less and St Thomas.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
crimson silk velvet, brocaded with gilt metal threads (with boucle - loop effects), adorned with linen orphreys embroidered with silver-gilt and polychrome silk threads, and seed pearl decoration
Physical description
Chasuble made of crimson velvet, which pattern is achieved by covering the areas that would otherwise be left voided (clear of the pile warp, with the ground weave clearly visible) with supplementary (brocading) gilt-metal weft. The main motifs are additionaly enriched and enchanced by creating the boucle loops with the supplementary (brocading) weft. The orphreys are linen embroidered with gilt metal and polychrome silks in split stitch and couched work, additional seed pearl decoration.

The orphreys are embroidered with pairs of saints beneath elaborate architectural canopies. Unidentified prophets are paired with saints including St Simon, St Bartholomew, John the Evangelist, St Andrew, St James the Less and St Thomas.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 1.58kg (Note: Aprox. 1.5m x 0.7m)
  • Length: 1290mm (Note: Maximum length)
  • Width: 737mm (Note: Measured at the widest point (of the back part of the chasuble))
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Lent by the Dominicans of the English Province
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:ENG.DOMINICAN.1

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Record createdJuly 25, 2006
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