Chasuble

Unknown

mid-19th century · Silk, metal · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

With glorious invention, the creator of this Chasuble (a tabard-like vestment worn by a Catholic priest over his clothing when leading church services) has quilted and appliquéd together shaped patches to create the illusion of an expensive and older figurative woven silk or high-end needlework. Amongst the appliquéd fabrics are woven silks including damasks, and even printed cottons. The dedicated amateur creating this has assembled a gently symmetrical, vibrant pattern, whose vivid colors are still readily appreciable.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-19th century

Medium

Silk, metal

Culture

probably Portuguese

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Museum Expedition 1920, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund