8312.
Piece of Raised Velvet; ground, crimson; pattern, flowers and foliage in green, white, and purple. North Italian, middle of 15th century. Attached is a piece of dark blue plush lining of the same date and country. 14-1/4 inches by 13-1/4 inches.
As a specimen of a pattern in raised velvet upon a plain silk ground,
this fragment is valuable; and the occurrence of roses, both white and
red, seeded and barbed, would, at first sight, lead to the thought that its
designer had in his mind some recollection of the English Yorkist and
Lancastrian strife-stirring and direful badges; but it must have been
woven some years before the war of the Roses raged in all its wildness
through the length and breadth of this land.
8313.
Purse with cords; white lattice-work on crimson ground, with crimson and yellow pattern in the spaces, four of which on each side are ornamented with gold thread. German, latter half of the 14th century. 5-1/2 inches by 5 inches.
Not only is this little bag nicely embroidered, but it has a lining of
crimson sarcenet, and is supplied with platted silken strings of several
colours for drawing its mouth close, as well as another silk string made
after the same fashion, for carrying it in the hand. In church inventories
of the period mention is often found of silk bags holding relics,
and from Dr. Bock we learn that in the sacristy of St. Gereon's, at Cologne,
may yet be seen just such another bag, which served, if it does
not still serve, as a sort of reliquary. For taking to the sick and dying,
the holy Eucharist shut up in a small silver or ivory box, such little bags
were and yet are employed, but then they were borne slung round the
neck of the priest, which in this instance could not be done, as the cord
is too short. Bags for prayer-books are often figured, but this one is
too small for such a purpose; its most probable use was that of a reliquary.
