A Spanish velvet cope

Circa 1580-1600

With a velvet orphrey of appliquéd silk and couched metal thread bearing the coat of arms of El Escorial - the gridiron of St. Lawrence - and two others, each a martyr’s crown and palm leaves, amid curling acanthus leaves between borders of narrow scrolls, above a burgundy and yellow silk fringe and widths of plain burgundy silk velvet. With an attached label attesting the cope’s origin in the Royal Chapel…

‘ 2 ECLESIASTIC COPE

RED VELVET WITH BROAD BORDER EMBROIDERED IN GOLD AND SILVER EMBELLISHED WITH THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE ESCORIAL AND THE ROYAL CROWN OF THE DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.

FROM THE ROYAL CHAPEL *OF THE ESCORIAL THE HOME OF THE SPANISH KINGS

PERIOD PHILIP 11 1527 - 1599 ’

The orphrey may be compared to that on a 16th century cope made in the workshops established by Philip II in El Escorial and now on display in the Galería de las Colecciones Reales, Madrid (inv. 10050216).

Provenance: The collection of Rafaello Amati.

127cm (50”) x 246cm (96¾”)

47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 2.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 3.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 4.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 5.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 6.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 7.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 8.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 9.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 10.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 11.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 12.JPG
47 Cope 16th century Spanish velvet Amati 13.JPG