and quite a work of art. Throned within a Gothic building, rather than beneath a canopy, sits the mother of the Divine Babe, who is out-*stretching His little hands towards the lily-branch which the approaching St. Joseph is holding in one hand, while in the other he carries a basket of doves. Outside, and on the green sward, are kneeling four angels robed as deacons, three of whom bear lily flowers, a fourth the liturgical fan; the whole is encircled by a garland of lilies. The under-side is worked with white doves in pairs, and a green tree blooming with red flowers; and though much of the needlework is gone, this cushion is a good example for such an appliance. Dr. Bock has figured it in his "Geschichte der Liturgischen Gewänder des Mittelalters," 1 Band, 2 Lieferung, p. xiii.
1325.
Part of an Altar-cloth; ground, linen; design, amid foliage sparingly heightened with yellow silk, birds, and beasts, and one end figured with the gammadion. German, 14th century. 6 feet 4-1/2 inches by 2 feet 2-1/2 inches.
This altar-cloth, now shortened and without one of its ends figured
with the gammadion, is made up of two different pieces, of which one
showing two large-headed pheasants, put one above the other, amid
foliage plentifully flowered with the fleur-de-lis and roses, is quite
perfect in its pattern; but the other, marked with alternate griffins
and lions, has been cut in two so as to give us but the hinder half of
each animal, amid a foliage of oak-leaves. The whole design, however,
is boldly drawn and spiritedly executed.
1326.
Damask, silk and cotton; ground, green; design, large and small conventional artichokes, in gold and yellow silk, amid garlands in white silk. Italian, 15th century. 2 feet 10 inches by 1 foot 3-1/4 inches.
Though much cotton is mixed up with the silk, and its gold was of
an inferior quality, still the crowded and elaborate design of its pattern
makes this stuff very pleasing.
