The pattern, rich in its texture and pleasing in its colours, consists of large stalks of flowers springing out of royal open crowns, all in a fine pile of green velvet, and, no doubt, was meant for palatial furniture.
5728.
A Missal-Cushion; ground, white satin; pattern, flowers and fruit embroidered in coloured silks, amid an ornamentation of net-work, partly in gold; it has four tassels of green silk and gold thread. French, 17th century. 1 foot 5 inches by 10 inches.
One of those cushions once so generally used for supporting the
Missal at the altar. It is figured only on the upper side, and underneath
is lined with a silk diapered in a pleasing pattern, in amber-colour. Its
tassels are rather large and made of several coloured silk threads and
gold.
5788.
A figure of St. Mark, seated; embroidered, in part by the hand, in part woven. Florentine, early 16th century. 1 foot 3 inches by 8-1/2 inches.
Beneath a circular-headed niche, with all its accessories in the style
of the revival of classic architecture, sits St. Mark, known as such by the
lions at his side. Within his right arm the Evangelist holds a large
cross; and on his lap lies an open book, both pages of which are written
with the words:—"Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in tēa." Much of the
architecture, as well as of the drapery of this personage, is loom-wrought,
assisted in places by needle-embroidery. The head, the hands, the feet,
are all done by the needle; but the head, neck, and beard are worked
upon very fine linen by themselves, and afterwards applied, and in such
a manner that the long white beard overlaps the tunic. His chair, instead
of legs, is upheld upon the backs of two lions lying on the ground.
The head is done with all the fineness and delicacy of a miniature on
ivory, and the way in which the massive folds of his full wide garments
are thrown over his knees is noteworthy and majestic.
