Description: "Sudarium made of linen and embroidered orphreys, German, 1400s, with triangular velvet heading, Italian, possibly from Lucca, ca. 1400-1425\n[Velvet] Triangular velvet heading of sudarium with peacock motif"
Origin: Germany
Period: 14th-15th century
Current location: Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England
Museum number: 8662-1863
Object number: O319133
Current Museum page:
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O319133/sudarium/
Current Museum Raw Record:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/api/json/museumobject/O319133
Original catalog description:
"Cover for crozier, of linen, ornamented with two narrow perpendicular strips of embroidery with coloured silks in tent (or cushion) stitch, with repeating pattern of lozenge shapes. At top a cap-shaped piece of green raised velvet, figured with a bird like a peacock, perched just by a well (see similar motive in woven specimens from Lucca or Palermo of the 14th centy). At each corner of this cap is a small parti-coloured tassel, and, at the top, the short narrow loop by which it hung from the upper part of the crozier-staff. German. 15th centy. 2 ft. 2 1/2 in. by 1 ft. 8 1/2 in. ... This specimen came from the church of St. Mary, Dantzic. (Cole: 294)
Personal Observations:
Fabric count: ~36 threads per inch (computed from photograph and given dimensions)
Colors noted:
Red Silk
Dark Blue Silk
Black Silk
Green Silk
Light Blue Silk
White Silk
References:
Cole, Alan S. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Collections of Tapestry and Embroidery in the South Kensington Museum. London: Printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode for H.M. Stationery Off., 1888.{https://books.google.com/books?id=KRktAAAAYAAJ}
Images:
http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2011EN/2011EN9646.jpg
Patterns:
http://wymarc.com/images/patterns/pdf/Y019A.pdf