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Dalmatic

Culture
possibly Spanish
Culture
possibly Italian
Date
early 17th century
Material
Silk, metallic thread, metal paillettes, metal wire, and metallic fringe
possibly made in
Italy, Europe
possibly made in
Spain, Europe
Classification
Costume & clothing, textiles
Collection
Decorative Arts and Design
Current Location
Not on view
Dimensions
48 1/2 × 57 in. (123.2 × 144.8 cm)
Credit Line
Museum Purchase
Rights
Public Domain
Object Number
318:1915
NOTES
Faded from a much deeper purple and covered in gold thread and sequins, this dalmatic, a type of Christian liturgical vestment, represents the height of 17th-century opulence. The fine interlacing bands on the tunic’s ground are called strapwork. Its cuffs and square central panel are decorated with arabesques, dense patterns of intertwining plants adopted from the Muslim world by earlier European artists.
- 1915
P. W. French & Co., New York, NY

1915 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from French & Co. [1]

Notes:
[1] Per accession record and minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, November 17, 1915. See invoice for an "Early seventeenth century Spanish Dalmatic," inventory number 5395, from French & Co. to the City Art Museum dated November 24, 1919. [SLAM document files].

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