An embroidered figure from an orphrey panel

St Barbara

Circa 1500, probably German

Worked in coloured silks in satin stitch and surface couching, and couched metal and gilt metal threads, on a linen ground with St Barbara standing before her three windowed tower and holding a book and a peacock’s feather.

With losses to the silk threads. Now applied to a 17th century panel of sized green linen bordered with gold braid, laid on a panel of sized brick red linen of similar age.

The gilt frame 31.6cm (12½”) high and 27.9cm (11”) wide.