CLOSE

Sacred Liturgical

The most exceptional textiles using silk, velvet, metallic thread and sometime pearls, precious and semi precious stones, were made for ceremonial or liturgical use in the church.  Masterpieces were produced during the Byzantine empire and continued afterwards.  These works were strongly influenced by manuscript and painting design. Copes - massive decorated capes - dalmatics, orphreys, hoods - all attracted the most superlative textile designers. Though produced throughout Europe, the most celebrated works were the embroideries produced in London from the 1100’s known as Opus Anglicanum.