Webberley Antiques

Description

A beautiful, early and well preserved piece of ecclesiastical sewing, silk on silk, depicting the lamb of God carrying the cross of St George in a hexagonal cartouche encircled by a green vine with stylised leaves and bearing purple grapes. At the opposing end of the stole, are the beautifully worked and entwined letters I H S. This is the name of Jesus abbreviated from the Greek.

The work is late Elizabethan embroidery on heavyweight pale cream silk and is incredibly finely worked.

Jesus Christ is symbolised as the Lamb of God carrying the flag of victory to represent His sacrifice, His triumph over death through resurrection, His ascension and His sovereignty over creation.

The six sided cartouche reflects the importance of the number 6 in Christianity, the completion by God of the creation itself and the imperfections and sins of mankind.

The stole has been long ago framed and protected so that the colours are bright and the condition remains superb.

This stole is of an extremely small size and yet is complete.

A stole is usually worn by Bishops and Arch Bishops as a part of their holy vestments. It symbolises the collar/yolk of Christ and is worn to show complete loyal service to God.

A fascinating and early piece of fine embroidery and a rare survivor.

Full of symbolism and every stitch would have been sewn with the love of God.


Dimensions are:

26.25 inches long x 4.5 inches wide and approximately 1.5 inches deep.

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