Today we in Sweden celebrates Christmas.
Our twenty fourth advent calendar post is a silk and gold thread embroidery. It’s made in the studio connected to the famous painter Albertus Pictor. Aka Albert Pärlstickare ( bead/ pearl embroider).
The embroidery is a back shield and was originally attached to a cope from Maria church, Sigtuna, Sweden.
The shield is dated to mid- late 15th century.
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
God jul!
/Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our twenty-third advent calendar post is a relics purse from Troyes, France. This relics purse is connected to the Comtes de Champagne. The whole surface of the purse is filled with counted embroidery made in filament silk. We don’t know what is underneath the stitches, but we guess at a very evenly woven linen.
We were really surprised bu the size of the purse, it’s quite large. Approx. 20- 25 cm in the bottom of the purse.
It’s in great condition and the small lovely turks head knots around the bottom and the lid are super cute and impressivly even.
This piece is dated to 13th century.
Now in collections of the Troyes Cathedral
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our eighteenth advent calendar post is a tablet woven band. The band is made in silk and metal thread. The band comes from Vreta Abbey, Östergötland, Sweden. The abbey opened in ca 1105 and closed down 1582.
They band is dated to approx. 13- 15th century.
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Ola Myrin, SHM
Our seventeenth advent calendar post is an alb with embroideries. The alb comes from Brännkyrka kyrka, Södermanland, Sweden. It is made of of the thinnest linen and is in great condition considering it’s age.
The embroideries are made with silk thread and metal spangles.
They alb is dated to 17th century.
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our thirteenth advent calendar post is two copes from Uppsala cathedral, Sweden. They are both made out of silk brocade with membran gold thread. The fabrics are both produced in Lucca in Italy.
The copes are dated to the second half of the 14th century.
Now in the collections of the cathedral Treasury Museum, Uppsala , Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our tenth advent calendar post is a sudarium from an unknown Swedish church. The top of the sudarium is made from a black velvet fabric, and is covered with gold spangles, pearls and gold thread embroideries. Colourful silk bands are attached around the top.
Possibly a work by the Birtgittin nuns from Vadstena.
The sudarium is dated to 15th century.
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our sixth advent calendar post is a silk band/ ribbon. The warp contains of two plied silk threads in red, white and blue. The weft is a red silk thread, most likely the same kind of thread as in the warp. Possibly woven with a rigid heddle.
The band is part of a cope from Vallentuna church, Sweden.
The cope is dated to mid- late 15th century.
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our fifth advent calendar post is a silk embroidery. Made in split stitch with metal thread decorations.
The embroidery is part of a a frontlet from Herrestad church, Sweden. The embroidery have been made by the nuns from Vadstena abbey. Vadstena abbey was founded by Saint Bridget.
The frontlet is dated to 15th century.
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
Our fourth advent calendar post is a purse made out of brownish/ purpleish silk velvet with metal band decoration. It’s lined with red leather. Draw string is made out of blue silk.
The purse have been used as a reliquary bag and contains small hard objects wrapped in fabric and with notes of parchment. Possibly bones from saint/s. We have no idea what saint or saints.
The purse is dated to 1350-1500 AD,
Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.
/ Amica and Maria
Photo: Historical Textiles
