Burse
Object name
Date made
Late 19th century-early 20th century
Place made
Description
Late 19th or early 20th-century burse with a central angel and religious symbols in all four corners.
Content description
Late 19th or early 20th-century Arts and Crafts burse with a central angel and surrounding Christian symbols. The central angel is worked in silk threads in satin, long and short, brick, block shading, and straight stitches. The halo involves couched passing threads, as does the border around the angel. The green background is worked in long and short stitches. It is likely that the angel in the centre is Matthew, as he is often pictured as a winged man holding a scroll. The presence of the his foot peeking out from under his robe might signify the angel’s role as intermediary between the heavenly and earthly realms.
In the viewer's top left is a Star of David and in the top right is a hand with two bent fingers and two extended fingers and a thumb, representing the Holy Trinity. Both are worked in silk and couched passing threads. On the bottom left is the IHS Christogram worked in couched gold passing and check threads, some of which have tarnished. This symbol originates from Jesus’ name in Greek (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ), although it has perhaps been interpreted here as Jesus, Saviour of Mankind in Latin (Iesus Hominum Salvator). On the bottom right is a haloed dove, representing the Holy Spirit, with a halo of couched passing threads and a body of straight and satin stitches. These four symbols also have a background of green long and short stitches.
The burse's symbols are bordered by raised, couched lines of gold passing threads. The remaining space is occupied by foliate or nue designs made of passing gold threads and brown silk threads. The burse is bordered by a cord of white silk threads. The inside of the burse is made of white silk and the back features silk damask showing grapes and ears of wheat. The burse was made by nuns inspired by the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts movement.
In the viewer's top left is a Star of David and in the top right is a hand with two bent fingers and two extended fingers and a thumb, representing the Holy Trinity. Both are worked in silk and couched passing threads. On the bottom left is the IHS Christogram worked in couched gold passing and check threads, some of which have tarnished. This symbol originates from Jesus’ name in Greek (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ), although it has perhaps been interpreted here as Jesus, Saviour of Mankind in Latin (Iesus Hominum Salvator). On the bottom right is a haloed dove, representing the Holy Spirit, with a halo of couched passing threads and a body of straight and satin stitches. These four symbols also have a background of green long and short stitches.
The burse's symbols are bordered by raised, couched lines of gold passing threads. The remaining space is occupied by foliate or nue designs made of passing gold threads and brown silk threads. The burse is bordered by a cord of white silk threads. The inside of the burse is made of white silk and the back features silk damask showing grapes and ears of wheat. The burse was made by nuns inspired by the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Dimensions
width: 25cm
height: 25cm
height: 25cm
Materials
Stitches
Techniques
Motifs
Credit line
Gift of Diana Symes of Exeter Cathedral, August 2019.
Catalogue number
RSN.2479
© Royal School of Needlework