Chasuble with Embroidered Orphrey
Unidentified Artist
Italian
Crimson cut velvet (pieced) chasuble edged in polychrome looped fringe. The embroidered orphrey was taken from a cope. The front panels depict, top to bottom, a cherub flanked by urn-topped pedestals; male saint, possibly St. Paul, holding a closed book in his proper right hand and a sword in his left. He stands within an arch topped by arabesques (many losses) below, in a similar niche, is St. Margaret who holds a palm in her p.r. hand, and a closed book in her left. Her dragon is at her feet. This panel is in the best condition. The back orphrey is from the same cope and depicts, top to bottom: the Madonna and child blessing; a bishop saint holding a crozier, wearing a cope an alb with an interesting stole (X crossed over chest); a martyr deacon saint wearing a dalmatic and holdng a palm (his attribute is hard to read).
Silk and metallic yarns (or nué) on cut velvet