A fragment of opus anglicanum. England, circa 1475-1500

Sections of a cope, the flowers embroidered with coloured silk and silver gilt threads in couched work and split stitch, on linen applied to a silk velvet ground with further decoration of couched cord and spangles.

The V & A has a fragment of an altar frontal with similar flower motifs on a blue velvet ground (mus. no. T.194-1911, British Galleries, room 58b, case 1). The Art Institute of Chicago has a cope (Grace R. Smith Textile Endowment, 1971.312a) with comparable decoration.

Mounted on linen on a stretcher. 27” (68.5cm) high and 34¾” (88.5cm) wide.