Orphrey

Unknown

15th–16th century · Silk, linen and metal thread · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Although this object resembles the reverse of a chasuble– the tabard-like garment worn by a Catholic priest during church services– this is a modern composite of a central fragmentary woven figurative orphrey strip (33.39.13) and two lengths of lampas silk (33.39.6a, .6b), assembled soon after the three elements entered The Met's collection in 1933. Most likely not originally part of the same garment, it is possible that the side panels, on the one hand, and the central orphrey strip, on the other, were all intended for and used as elements within two different chasubles, long ago dismembered.

Artist

Unknown

Date

15th–16th century

Medium

Silk, linen and metal thread

Culture

Italian, possibly Florence

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Van Santvoord Merle-Smith, 1933