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Chasuble Back with Embroidered Orphrey Band
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The chasuble is the main sleeveless outer vestment worn by priests while officiating during Mass. By the 1400s, the chasuble became highly ornamented with embroidered decorative bands called orphreys, often in the shape of a cross, as seen here. This luxurious Italian example features velvet of three colors with lush pile. In Graz, Austria, it was embellished with a locally embroidered orphrey featuring crowns, haloes, and backgrounds of scenes formed with gold thread. The Virgin and Child, and Saints Catherine, Dorothy, Ursula, and Barbara are featured.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Graz (orphrey) |
|---|---|
| Date | 1415–25 |
| Culture / Origin | Italy (chasuble ground); Austria, Graz (orphrey) |
| Medium | Velvet: cut pile and voided; silk, gold and silver thread: embroidery; split and couching stitches |
| Dimensions | Overall: 122.2 x 73.7 cm (48 1/8 x 29 in.) |
| Department | Textiles |
| Type | Embroidery |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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