Altar Frontal (Antependium) of The Göss Vestments

Image: Detail of the Altar Frontal of the Göss Vestments

Detail of the Altar Frontal of the Göss Vestments

Background

The altar frontal makes up part of the Göss Vestments.

Materials Used

  • Linen ground
  • coloured silk thread (blue,yellow, green, rust light brown, white, red)

Stitches and Techniques

The piece is worked in a variety of stitches, including brick stitch, what appears to be a form of counted stem stitch and long-armed cross stitch.

Design

Depicted in the medallions: Annunciation to the Virgin, Virgin enthroned with Child, the Three Magi. Below left, alongside the central medallion: Kunigunde, donator of the paraments; to her right, St. Adala, founder of the Convent at Göss, with a model of the church.

The chasuble is 140cm by 300cm. Museum number T 6902/1908

Links

Sources for Further Information

  • Schuette, Marie and Muller-Christensen, Sigrid. The Art of Embroidery, (London: Thames and Hudson, 1964)
Altar Frontal of the Göss Vestments

Altar Frontal of the Göss Vestments

Images kindly provided by Prof Michael Greenhalgh