crimson; and the green sward, from which both spring, covered with full-blown daisies in one instance, with unexpanded daisies in the other. German, late 15th century. 17-1/2 inches by 4-1/2 inches.
Like several other specimens in the collection, and most probably
woven to be the orphreys sewed, before and behind, in a horizontal stripe,
upon the dalmatics and tunicles for high mass. The student of symbolism
will not fail to see in the tree to the right hand the mystic vine, bearing
bunches of crimson grapes; while, to the left, the tree covered with
parti-coloured lilies—white for purity, red for a bleeding-heart—is
referrible to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose heart, as she stood at the
foot of the cross, underwent all the pains of martyrdom foretold her by
Simeon when he said,—"And thine own soul a sword shall pierce,"
Luke ii. 35.
1350.
Web for Orphreys; ground, narrow blue spaces alternating with wider crimson ones; design, the name of "Jhesus," in gold upon the blue, between two borders checkered crimson blue and yellow, the crimson spaces charged with a floriation, alternately gold and yellow; the next blue space inscribed with the name "Maria" in gold. In the names, as well as the floriation, the metal has become tarnished so as to look a dull brown. German, late 15th century. 19 inches by 2-1/4 inches.
Of such webs there are several specimens in the collection; and their
use was to ornament liturgical vestments, in those long perpendicular
lines found upon tunicles and dalmatics.
1351.
Piece of Raised Velvet; ground, crimson; design, a conventional artichoke, wreathed with small flowers in green and yellow within a garland of the same colours. Italian, 16th century. 11-1/2 inches by 11 inches.
