Italy, chasuble: c. 132 x 77 cm (stole: c. 240 x 8 (21) cm), last third of the 15th century; in the Middle Ages, pictorial embroideries were, also due to widespread illiteracy, important elements in altars, churches and, in particular, on the liturgical vestments or officiating priests; worn on special occasions marking the liturgical calendar, luxurious textiles such as the present one conveyed a clear message and produced a powerful effect on an audience of mostly modest means; very rare green chasuble front with cut open silk velvet in relief technique with “elliptic pattern”, the chasuble orphreys are made of silk and gold embroidery and attached in appliqué technique as “ready-made items” on an already embroidered foundation; in very good condition, backed with cotton fabric, with an illegible blue stamp on the rear of the stole.

Further reading:
Christa-Maria Jeitner, Der Textilbestand im Dom zu Brandenburg und seine Geschichte; Uta-Christiane Bergemann, Kataloge des Deutschen Textilmuseums Krefeld, vol. 3, Europäische Stickereien 1250-1650; Maria Varju-Ember, Leonie von Wilckens, Die textilen Künste, Von der Spätantike bis um 1500; Alte Textilien, Kunstschätze des ungarischen Nationalmuseums.