Notes on a Chalice Veil in the National Museum of Antiquities

Abstract

This piece of sixteenth-century embroidery is an example of an almost unique kind, its decoration consisting solely of an embroidered text used as a border and enclosed between lines of fine stitching and drawn-thread work. A rather elaborately plaited tassel still decorates one corner of the cloth. From the torn condition of the other corners, it seems likely that at one time each was weighted by a tassel, and this possibility, combined with the number of rows of stitching and grouping of the drawn-thread border and the use of a text as the decorative motive, make it almost certain that the linen was intended for use as a chalice veil. The beginning of the quotation is marked by a heart worked in silver foil outlined with crimson silk and runs, " cal upon me cayeth the lord in tym of the trebil and i sal delyvir the and thou sal honour me."

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Note: The chalice veil is currently on display in the National Museum of Scotland on Level 1, Scotland Galleries, Kingdom of the Scots, Reformed Church