We have frequently featured the former but have not given sufficient due to the latter as of yet -- and, ironically, what inspired this 'mea culpa' is not in a fact a 19th century French work at all, but in point of a fact a contemporary, 21st century work done in that style by Sacra Domus Aurea.
Before we get into the contemporary work shown here, first a bit of general background. The 19th century French embroidered tradition often features rich velvet fabrics, particularly where red, violet or black vestments are concerned. The usual regional style persists with the Cross found on the back of the chasuble and a column orphrey on the front; in the 19th century French embroidered tradition, these are frequently very ornamental in their form.
Sacra Domus Aurea has picked up on these historical trends to produce an extremely fine chasuble done in black velvet with silver embroidery -- not to mention the traditional French cut. To look at it one would think it was indeed pulled out of 19th century France, but in reality, it was made only recently. I can say in all honesty it is the first contemporary approach to this particular period style that I am personally aware of. In this regard, it is surely a ground-breaking work.
Pleasingly, the set includes not only the embroidered cross and orphrey column, but also a lovely ornamental border and intersecting pattern of crosses and flowers. Here's a closer look:
As was typical of this period of vestment in France, the designs include both floral elements as well as explicit religious symbolism (in this instance the IHS).
A truly ground-breaking work that has revived a style not heretofore seen in contemporary work.
For more information, visit Sacra Domus Aurea's website or on social media.
