Maniple (one of a set of five vestments)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk, metal thread
Dimensions
L. 40 3/4 x W. 9 1/2 (103.5 x 24.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
Italian, probably Sicily
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Catherine M. Randazzo Guirreri and John J. Randazzo, in memory of the Saverio Randazzo Family, 1984
Accession Number
1984.462.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite maniple, a narrow liturgical vestment worn over the priest's left arm during Catholic Mass, hails from 18th-century Italy, likely Sicily. Measuring 40 3/4 by 9 1/2 inches, it forms part of a lavish set of five vestments from silk embroidered with shimmering metal threads. The floral motifs, a hallmark of Sicilian textile artistry, bloom in intricate patterns, evoking the lush Mediterranean landscapes and Baroque exuberance of the era. Embroidered like this exemplify the pinnacle of European decorative arts, blending sumptuous materials with masterful needlework techniques. Silk...