Textile Fabrics: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Church-vestments, Dresses, Silk Stuffs, Needlework and Tapestries, forming that Section of the MuseumRock, Daniel
History
Textile Fabrics: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Church-vestments, Dresses, Silk Stuffs, Needlework and Tapestries, forming that Section of the Museum
Rock, Daniel
Art objects -- England -- London -- Catalogs; Textile fabrics
Whilst these pages were going through the press, one of these old
English pyx, or Corpus Christi cloths, was found at the bottom of a
chest in Hessett church, Suffolk. As it is a remarkable and unique
specimen of the ingenious handicraft done by our mediæval countrywomen,
we notice it. To make this pyx-cloth, a piece of thick linen, about two
feet square, was chosen, and being marked off into small equal widths
on all its four edges, the threads at every other space were, both in
the warp and woof, pulled out. The checquers or squares so produced
all over it were then drawn in by threads tied on the under side, so
as to have the shape of stars, so well and nicely given that, till
this piece had been narrowly looked into, it was thought to be guipure
lace. Of a textile so admirably wrought, it is to be regretted that
there is, as yet, no sample in this collection. This curious liturgical
appliance is figured in the April number, for the year 1868, of the
“Ecclesiologist,” page 86.
For the several very curious sorts of ornamental needlework about it,
and the somewhat intricate manner after which it is cut out, the old
alb, No. 8710, p. 268, as well as the amice, No. 8307, p. 185, having
both of them the apparels yet remaining sewed on to these church
garments, must draw the attention of every inquirer after such rare
existing samples of the kind.
Some very fine threaden cloths--now become rare--for liturgical
purposes, deserve attention. In the old inventories of church furniture
in England, they are known under the name of “filatoria,” about which
we have spoken just now, p. cix. At No. 4457, p. 99, is a towel which,
it is likely, was spread under the tapers for Candlemass-day, and the
twigs of the sallow, or willow (our so-called palm), and slips of
the box-tree, for Palm-Sunday, while they were being hallowed before
distribution. For several lectern veils, we shall have to go to No.
7029, p. 120; No. 8358, p. 210; and No. 8693, p. 261.
Those two linen napkins, formerly kept hanging down from just below the
crook on a pastoral staff or crozier are become so excessively rare,
that we unhesitatingly believe that none of our countrymen have ever
been able to find, either in England or abroad, a single other sample;
they are to be seen, No. 8279A, p. 174, and No. 8662, p. 250.
Those who have ever witnessed on a Sunday morning in any of the great
churches at Paris, the blessing of the French “pain beni”--our old
English “holy loaf”--the “eulogia” of antiquity--will call to mind
how a fair white linen cloth, like the one here, No. 8698, p. 263,
overspread, and fell in graceful folds down from two sides of the board
upon which, borne on the shoulders of four youthful acolytes, a large
round cake garnished with flowers and wax-tapers was carried through
the chancel, and halting at the altar’s foot got its blessing from the
celebrant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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