Art Institute of Chicago

Altar Frontal

Italy

Date

Second half of 16th century

Medium

Silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, 4:1 satin damask weave with supplementary brocading wefts bound by main warps in weft-float faced 1:4 's' interlacing; edged with gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, plain weave with supplementary patterning warps and extended ground weft uncut fringe and silk, gilt-metal-strip and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk, stripes of plain weave with supplementary patterning warps and of 2:2 'z' twill weave with extended ground weft, wrapped, knotted uncut fringe; lining: silk, plain weave

Culture

Italy

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Expensive silk and gold textiles featured prominently in the decoration used in European Catholic churches. Because of their cost, precious materials were often recycled and refashioned. This 16th-century textile altar frontal has been augmented with more recent fringe and trimmings around the perimeter. The placement of these new elements echo the style of 16th-century frontals; they may have replaced originals that had become unsightly with age.

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