Liturgical cuff
Unknown Artist
17th century (?)
Medium
Silver and silver gilt on silk
Dimensions
9 3/4 × 6 in. (24.8 × 15.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
Russo-Byzantine
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1949
Accession Number
49.32.172
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Liturgical cuff*, crafted in the 17th (or thereabouts) by an unknown artist, hails from the Russo-Byzantine, blending Eastern Orthodox spirituality with masterful textile artistry. Measuring a modest 9¾ × 6 inches (24.8 × 15.2 cm), it features intricate embroidery of silver and silver gilt on luxurious silk—a technique prized for its shimmering, jewel-like effect that evoked heavenly radiance during religious ceremonies. As part of priestly vestments, such cuffs adorned the sleeves of liturgical garments, symbolizing purity and divine protection. Rooted in the opulent world of...