Chasuble
Eighteenth-century Europeans were entranced by the light touch and vibrant palettes of Chinese embroidery, worked upon soft, lustrous Chinese silks. This chasuble– the tabard-like garment worn by a Catholic priest in Christian church services– is part of a partially-surviving set of church vestments in The Met's collection (see 1973.118b, .118c, .118d). The complete set was decorated and assembled in China for the export market; although the front and back of the chasuble were each made in a single piece, the chasuble's Chinese designers evoked the European convention of sewing together separate side panels and central "orphrey" strips. At some point in its history, the chasuble needed considerable repairs after the wear-and-tear of decades' use worn by priests: patches cut from a matching item in the vestment set were very carefully applied to the garment's front around the chest area, the seams and joins hidden by a broad, nineteenth-century passementerie braid, which has since been removed.
Artwork Details
- Title: Chasuble
- Date: early 18th century
- Culture: Chinese, for European market
- Medium: Silk
- Dimensions: Neck to hem, back: 40 inches; 101.6 cm
- Classification: Textiles-Embroidered
- Credit Line: Condé Nast Fund and Everfast Fund, 1973
- Object Number: 1973.118a
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 1700–1800
late 18th century
mid-18th century
17th century
Early 18th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.