Orphrey (one of a pair)
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Silk and metal thread
Dimensions
L. 40 x W. 7 inches (101.6 x 17.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
Spanish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1914
Accession Number
14.134.3a
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 17th-century Spanish orphrey, one of a pair, is a narrow embroidered band crafted from silk and metal threads, measuring 40 x 7 inches. Orphreys like this were prized decorative elements sewn onto ecclesiastical vestments, such asasubles worn by priests during Mass, adding splendor to religious ceremonies. Produced in Spain during the height of the Baroque era, it reflects the era's opulent textile traditions, where embroidery served both spiritual and artistic purposes. The design features the iconic Madonna and Child alongside horses, blending tender religious devotion with d...