Chasuble of St. Nicholas

Background

This chasuble is one of two made for the Benedictine Abbey of St. Blasien in the 13th Century in the Black Forest of Germany. The other Chasuble resides in the Abbey St.Paul in Lavanttal.

Stitches and Techniques

• long-armed cross stitch
• brick stitch
• chain stitch
• couching

Design and Materials

The design is made up of various religious scenes, including the Lamb of God, ten Gospel scenes and 28 scenes from the life of St. Nicholas.

The square compartments are edged in Latin inscriptions and foliate scroll work.

The base fabric of the chasuble is linen canvas with couched work in gold thread. Silk thread in long-armed cross stitch is used for the backgrounds and brick, chain and couching in silk and gold used for the figures.

Further Reading

• Stradel, Marianne and Ulrike Brommer, "Mit Nadel und Faden". (Freiburg: Herder, 1990)