Art Institute of Chicago

Cope

Italy, probably Venice

Date

1460-1470

Medium

Silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave with supplementary brocading wefts bound by main warps in weft-float faced 1:4 'S' twill interlacings and with supplementary pile warps forming cut voided velvet

Culture

Venice

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Velvet textiles often formed the foundation for the most sumptuous ecclesiastical vestments, or ceremonial attire, worn by European clergy. The cope, a cape-like garment, is worn during processions. It is usually decorated with a band of embroidery, or orphery, on its straight edge. These precious textile components were often separated to increase their value on the art market in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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