The Maaseik embroideries

Abstract

Among the relics in the treasury of the church of St Catherine at Maaseik in Limburg, Belgium, there are some luxurious embroideries which form part of the so-called casula (probably ‘chasuble’) of Sts Harlindis and Relindis (pls. I–VI). It was preserved throughout the Middle Ages at the abbey church of Aldeneik (which these sister-saints founded in the early eighth century) and was moved to nearby Maaseik in 1571. Although traditionally regarded as the handiwork of Harlindis and Relindis themselves, the embroideries cannot date from as early as their time, and they must have been made in Anglo-Saxon England. Indeed, they represent the earliest surviving examples of the highly prized English art of embroidery which became famous later in the Middle Ages as opus anglicanum.

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“…Her anger at the thought of wearing hair adornments had as much to do with cultivation of the right disposition and its recognition by others as it did with vanity and beauty. 104 Records indicate that these textiles were in two pieces in 1388 when they were removed from a reliquary for display. Defying the wishes of King Dagobert, Rictrud tricked him into allowing her to take the veil, rather than marry one of his followers.…”

“…It remains unclear when the multiple embroideries and different cloths were sewn into the form in which they were found when taken from a reliquary for study in 1867. 104 Records indicate that these textiles were in two pieces in 1388 when they were removed from a reliquary for display. 105 These textiles were restored recently, and the individual components are now displayed unattached.…”

“…106 The David silk on the other hand was almost certainly woven in northern Europe from imported silk thread. 106 The David silk on the other hand was almost certainly woven in northern Europe from imported silk thread.…”

“…Islamic or Byzantine in origin and dates to the late eighth or early ninth century. 106 The David silk on the other hand was almost certainly woven in northern Europe from imported silk thread. During restoration, conservators discovered another piece of the David silk inside the reliquary, and they now think the David silk once served as an altar cloth.…”