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Altar Frontal

A work made of silk, warp-float faced 3:1 'z' twill weave with supplementary discontinuous facing brocading wefts forming areas of weft loops (known as bouclé) tied by secondary binding warps in weft-float faced 3:1 twill interlacing and supplementary pile warps forming cut, pile on pile, voided velvet.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of silk, warp-float faced 3:1 'z' twill weave with supplementary discontinuous facing brocading wefts forming areas of weft loops (known as bouclé) tied by secondary binding warps in weft-float faced 3:1 twill interlacing and supplementary pile warps forming cut, pile on pile, voided velvet.

Date:

1480-1550

Artist:

Spain or Italy

About this artwork

Velvets fabrics often formed the foundation for the most sumptuous liturgical textiles used by European clergy. The altar frontal, a cloth that covers the front of the altar table, was once decorated with embroidery and it was likely part of a coordinating set of liturgical objects that include priests’ apparel and accessories. Variations of this popular velvet pattern were woven in both Italy and Spain and produced for many decades. A kaftan made of this design was part of the vast wardrobe of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I (r. 1603–17).

Status

On View, Gallery 237

Department

Textiles

Title

Altar Frontal

Places

Italy (Object Probably made in), Western Europe (Object made in), Europe (Object made in), Spain (Object Probably made in)

Date

Made 1480-1550

Medium

Silk, warp-float faced 3:1 'Z' twill weave with supplementary discontinuous facing brocading wefts forming areas of weft loops (known as bouclé) tied by secondary binding warps in weft-float faced 3:1 twill interlacing and supplementary pile warps forming cut, pile on pile, voided velvet

Dimensions

100.8 × 203.4 cm (39 3/4 × 80 1/8 in.) Repeat: 84.4 × 56.5 cm (33 1/4 × 22 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Kate S. Buckingham Endowment

Reference Number

1944.403

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/110794/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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