Some Beautiful Stitching (Picture Heavy)

Gentle Friends, Sunday afternoon we drove over the Bay to Berkeley to see a small show of antique liturgical vestments.  The show was at ...

These lovely things came from a bequest of a Dominican Father who had been collecting for years.  Although there was not much history or provenance about each piece they are very accessible to the viewing public.  Only a few of the more delicate pieces are behind glass, the others are displayed well and open to close inspection....  so here are quite a few snaps .....

One side...

... a detail shot

... the other side

... and a detail...

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... at first, I thought these were seed beads then I looked closer and saw that they are all knots...
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These pieces are all greys blacks and tans...Memento Mori (remember you will die)  these textiles were created for funeral liturgies.

This antependium created to adorn the alter features the letter A;pha and Omega which make reference to a vision of John and the promise of a new and eternal life (Rev. 21)

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This vestment fragment is gold thread on Chinese silk from Ayacucho Peru and dates to the 1750s.  Created by cloistered nuns of the Disclased Carmelite Order.  The central image of the pelican represents the self-offering of the Suffering Christ.

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... another silk on silk fragment showing the Annunciation.

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This chasuble features the Baptism of the Lord is made of silk and comes from the Rheinland ca 19th century.  The cross orphrey (central band) includes the text in Latin from Matt. 3: 17: (back)  Hic est filius meus dilectus; (front) in quo mihi bene complacui..."This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased..."  The text "reads" back to front because the backside of the chasuble is most visible to the people attending Mass.  Once they read the first few words, memory would recall the rest of the phrase (on the front).  Some detail shots...

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This Dalmatic is made of silk and is also 19th century and from the Rheinland.  The orphreys include the text in Latin from Isaiah 12: 5-6.... Cantate Domino, quoniam magnifice fecit; notum sit hoc in universa terra.  Exsulta et lauda, quae habitas in Sion. quia magnus in medio tui Santus Israel.

"Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.  Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."


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Off of the gallery was one of the classrooms... what a great place to study or listen to a lecture.
If you are anywhere near Berkeley and can get to this jewel of a show I would highly recommend it!!
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There you go sports fans, thanks again for stopping by do stop again!!
Good Thoughts! Good Words! Good Deeds!
edgar

Remembering on Flag Day

Gentle Friends, whenever I think of the American Flag I think of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem....

... the flag now resides in the National Museum of American History on of the 11 Smithsonian's on the Mall... in my younger days, growing up in Maryland I remember School trips to both Fort McHenry ...



...and to the NMAH so I've seen both the flag and were it flew... something I've never forgotten....  you can click HERE top read more about the flag ....  when I saw it many, many, many, years ago, it was actually hanging, now it is installed laying down at an angle to better preserve the fabric of the flag....

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Visiting the Legion of Honor Part 3 - Some of the Permanent Collection.....

Gentle Friends.....after viewing the temporary exhibit "High Style' we headed upstairs to the permanent collections to have a look.  There are some gorgeous pieces here and it was just fun  seeing some old friends.........

... you know me an how I enjoy religiously inspired art, well here is one of the pieces I could stand and look at all day long....  it's by the master of the Retable of the Reyes Catolicos, "The Annuciation" Spanish last quarter of the 15th century - oil on pine panel.

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Bartolomeo di Giovanni "The Adoration of the Magi" - Florentine ca. 1490 - oil on panel

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Master of the St. Lucy Legend "Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels" Flemish ca 1575 - oil and tempera on panel

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The LoH has a couple of really wonderful "rooms" within the collection......  

 Here is the didactic panel.......

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In the area of the 18th century collections are furniture and decorative pieces....

... The portrait is of an unknown Gentleman by Nicolas de Largilliere, 1710 oil on canvas.  The Commode it hangs over is French made in Paris ca 1755 attributed to Joseph Baumhauer - Marquetry of bois satine (bloodwood) and kingwood, gilt bronze, ebony and marble.  The clock has figures of Study and Philosophy, made in Paris ca 1785-90 by Renacle-Nicolas Sotiau of patinated and gilt bronze, marble, enameled metal and glass.

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There is also a large gallery of piece by Auguste Rodin.....

"The Three Shades" ca 1880

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Here is another room that was recently finished and installed.....  The Salon Dore

.... and the didactic panel..

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I wrap up this last post on our visit with this painting, by John Spencer Stanhope, "Love and the Maiden" British - 1877 - tempera, gold paint, gold leaf on canvas.  Here's a great piece of info from the museum.......

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There are many, many more wonderful things to see in the museum and if you are in San Francisco and have a free afternoon I would highly recommend this as a destination!!!!   I hope you have enjoyed all the snaps and a little look at some Treasures here by the Bay.
 Thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar