Stole with Figures of Kings and Bishops
Unknown Artist
ca. 1300
Medium
Silk, gold thread
Dimensions
Overall: 58 x 7 1/2in. (147.3 x 19.1cm)
Classification
Textiles-Costumes-Ecclesiastical
Culture
British
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number
64.101.1235
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Stole with Figures of Kings and Bishops crafted around 1300 in Britain, is a rare surviving example of medieval ecclesiastical embroidery. Measuring 58 by 7½ inches, this long, narrow silk vestment adorned with gold thread was worn by clergy during liturgical ceremonies, draped over the shoulders as a symbol of spiritual authority. Produced in the heart of Gothic-era England, it reflects the era's devotion to ornate church textiles, where skilled artisans wove opulence into sacred garments to honor divine and royal hierarchies. The stole features embroidered figures of kings a...