Bishop
Ecclesiastical Figure
first half 19th century (made)
first half 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figure is one of a set of 50 dressed to represent the outfits worn by Catholic religious orders. They are made of tow (hemp) with wax heads, hands and feet. They were probably made in France, as they are labelled in French, but some of the orders represented were only active in Germany and the Netherlands.
This figure represents a Bishop of the Catholic Church. The figure is wearing Choir dress, which is worn while attending (but not celebrating) liturgical functions. A blue tunic is worn under a white embroidered and lace trimmed rochet, and a blue mozzetta (cape). The figure wears a cross on a cord, and carries a Papal staff bearing the Cross of Lorraine. On its head is a mitre, the traditional ceremonial head-dress. In the Catholic church, the wearing of the mitre is limited to bishops and abbots. This example is an auriphrygiata mitre, which is plain white silk with decorative bands or trimming. There are two other types of mitre, the plain white simplex, usually worn for funerals and Good Friday, and the elaborately decorated pretiosa, worn on Sundays and feast-days.
This figure represents a Bishop of the Catholic Church. The figure is wearing Choir dress, which is worn while attending (but not celebrating) liturgical functions. A blue tunic is worn under a white embroidered and lace trimmed rochet, and a blue mozzetta (cape). The figure wears a cross on a cord, and carries a Papal staff bearing the Cross of Lorraine. On its head is a mitre, the traditional ceremonial head-dress. In the Catholic church, the wearing of the mitre is limited to bishops and abbots. This example is an auriphrygiata mitre, which is plain white silk with decorative bands or trimming. There are two other types of mitre, the plain white simplex, usually worn for funerals and Good Friday, and the elaborately decorated pretiosa, worn on Sundays and feast-days.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Bishop |
| Materials and techniques | Figure made of tow and wax, dressed in linen and woollen materials. |
| Brief description | Wax and tow figure dressed as a Roman Catholic bishop |
| Physical description | Figure made of wax and tow, dressed in linen and woollen fabrics. Blue tunic and cape, white embroidered linen and lace cotta, cross on a cord, mitre, purple undergarment |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr. G. Smith |
| Object history | One of a group of 50 figures given to the Educational Department by Mr. G. Smith of St John's Wood in 1868, but only formally accessioned in 1905. The labels on the bases are in French but some of the orders represented (e.g the Alexians and the Order of the Conception) seem to have been confined to Germany and the Low Countries. (from original acquisition record for 1905) |
| Production | Labelled in French; some of the orders represented confined to Germany or the Netherlands. |
| Summary | This figure is one of a set of 50 dressed to represent the outfits worn by Catholic religious orders. They are made of tow (hemp) with wax heads, hands and feet. They were probably made in France, as they are labelled in French, but some of the orders represented were only active in Germany and the Netherlands. This figure represents a Bishop of the Catholic Church. The figure is wearing Choir dress, which is worn while attending (but not celebrating) liturgical functions. A blue tunic is worn under a white embroidered and lace trimmed rochet, and a blue mozzetta (cape). The figure wears a cross on a cord, and carries a Papal staff bearing the Cross of Lorraine. On its head is a mitre, the traditional ceremonial head-dress. In the Catholic church, the wearing of the mitre is limited to bishops and abbots. This example is an auriphrygiata mitre, which is plain white silk with decorative bands or trimming. There are two other types of mitre, the plain white simplex, usually worn for funerals and Good Friday, and the elaborately decorated pretiosa, worn on Sundays and feast-days. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1212:28-1905 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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