Chasuble

Mid-19th century

Not on view

This garment is a tabard-like chasuble, intended to be worn by a Catholic priest during church services. Throughout the nineteenth century, Chinese textile workers catered to Europeans' love of the color and decorative elegance of their work through a vibrant and widespread export market. This example is not quite as fine as some other Chinese-made European vestments in The Met's collection (for example, 62.215.2 or 1973.118a) and likely represents the cheaper and later end of the market. The chasuble has been used and worn until its fine silk fell into holes, with some incongruous patching on the front of European woven floral silks– either French or British.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Chasuble
Date: Mid-19th century
Culture: Chinese, for European market
Medium: Silk
Dimensions: H. 42 x Gr. W. 31 3/4 inches (106.7 x 80.6 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Embroidered
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Willis Wood, 1961
Object Number: 61.227
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Archer's Ring with Taoist Symbols (清扳指), Wood, Chinese — Archer's Ring with Taoist Symbols (清扳指)
Chinese
19th century

Chasuble, Silk, metal, linen, Spanish and British or Chinese made for export — Chasuble
Spanish and British or Chinese made for export
17th Century (embroidery), 18th Century (silk), cut, reassembled and reshaped at a later date

Imperial Knife with Sheath, Steel, lapis lazuli, turquoise, pink stone, gold, enamel, Chinese — Imperial Knife with Sheath
Chinese
18th century

Chasuble, Silk, metal, linen, Spanish — Chasuble
Spanish
ca. 1550, cut, patched and reassembled at a later date

Tea Caddy, Porcelain, Chinese — Tea Caddy
Chinese
ca. 1790–1800

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.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.