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Apparel of an Amice
Possibly English
12th century
Object Place: England
Medium/Technique
Gilt yarns on linen
Dimensions
52.5 cm (20 11/16 in.); Legacy dimension: L: 20 3/4; W: 3 1/2 in.
Credit Line
Frederick Brown Fund
Accession Number56.110
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionApparel of an amice. Long narrow rectangular band of linen lined with coarser linen. The face shows a pattern of seven tangent roundels, with supplementary ornaments, defined by red lines, needle holes and traces of gold thread. At the points of tangency between adjacent circles and between the circles and the narrow straight borders are spaces for circular, elliptical, trefoils, two enamel quatrefoils and one crystal carbuncle remain stitched to the linen. The second, fourth, and sixth roundels each contain the figure of a lion as the central motif; the rest of the ornaments are composed of conventionalized flowers. On the back is a fragment of gold-colored warp twill silk; also closely packed linen stitches which held in the gold threads on the face in underside couching. Much worn. Enamels cracked and pitted.