Vestment
late 17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A small number of leather vestments have survived which appear to date from the late 17th and early 18th century. Leather is not an obvious material to make vestments from, because of its stiffness, weight and therefore awkwardness and discomfort in wear. But when the surface was raised by stamping or embossing, and then decorated with gilding and silvering, and painting with other colours, its visual effect could be very rich and fine.
The art of decorating leather in this way originated in Spain, but spread to many European countries, in particular the Netherlands. Leather vestments are usually associated with German or Italian manufacture, although there is no clear consensus on this. The most spectacular example to have survived, a cope originally used in Saig in the Black Forest region of Germany and now in the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, may be German, but a comparison of its design with Italian velvets suggests an Italian origin is also possible.
The art of decorating leather in this way originated in Spain, but spread to many European countries, in particular the Netherlands. Leather vestments are usually associated with German or Italian manufacture, although there is no clear consensus on this. The most spectacular example to have survived, a cope originally used in Saig in the Black Forest region of Germany and now in the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, may be German, but a comparison of its design with Italian velvets suggests an Italian origin is also possible.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | silvered embossed and stamped leather, linen lining. The gold colour is achieved with a yellow varnish over the very fine silver leaf. |
| Brief description | Set of leather vestments, chasuble, stole and maniple, stamped and silvered, late 17th century, possibly German or Italian |
| Dimensions |
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| Historical context | Pauline Johnstone comments [on leather vestments generally] "The use of gilded and stamped leather appears to be an example of the determination to use an expensive fashionable material for vestments whether it was suitable or not. Certainly the leather chasubles, and even the occasional cope, must have been intolerably heavy and awkward in wear". |
| Summary | A small number of leather vestments have survived which appear to date from the late 17th and early 18th century. Leather is not an obvious material to make vestments from, because of its stiffness, weight and therefore awkwardness and discomfort in wear. But when the surface was raised by stamping or embossing, and then decorated with gilding and silvering, and painting with other colours, its visual effect could be very rich and fine. The art of decorating leather in this way originated in Spain, but spread to many European countries, in particular the Netherlands. Leather vestments are usually associated with German or Italian manufacture, although there is no clear consensus on this. The most spectacular example to have survived, a cope originally used in Saig in the Black Forest region of Germany and now in the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, may be German, but a comparison of its design with Italian velvets suggests an Italian origin is also possible. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 476 to B-1882 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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