Chasuble
Not on view
This tabard-like garment was made for a Roman Catholic priest to wear when leading church services. Although the richly patterned design, combining deep hues of purple, red, green and gold, imitates the effects of an early eighteenth-century European silk of the type called "bizarre", it is actually a mass-made fabric, thick, hardy and originally intended for upholstery. Nonetheless, signs of wear-and-tear, especially around the chest area reveal that it was worn and used, uncomfortable as it must have been.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
