Part of a Chasuble
Unknown Artist
c. 1500
Medium
Silk, gold filé; appliqué, embroidery: couching stitches Velvet: solid pile, silk
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":1.01,"width":0.528}}
Classification
Embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of The Textile Arts Club
Accession Number
1970.124
About this artwork
Although missing the central decorative band, these two velvet panels embroidered with angels and thistles originally formed part of the back of an ecclesiastical chasuble. The term opus anglicanum, or English work, refers to English embroidery dating from the 1100s through the 1500s, like this example. Made primarily in embroidery guilds in London, it was in great demand for royal and ecclesiastical garments and furnishings throughout Europe.