Chasuble

Unknown

early 18th century · Silk · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This garment is a tabard-like chasuble, intended to be worn by a Catholic priest during church services. Throughout the nineteenth century, Chinese textile workers catered to Europeans' love of the color and decorative elegance of their work through a vibrant and widespread export market. This example is not quite as fine as some other Chinese-made European vestments in The Met's collection (for example, 62.215.2 or 1973.118a) and likely represents the cheaper and later end of the market. The chasuble has been used and worn until its fine silk fell into holes, with some incongruous patching on the front of European woven floral silks– either French or British.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 18th century

Medium

Silk

Culture

Chinese, for European market

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Willis Wood, 1961