The Corgarff Chasuble

The Corgarff Chasuble

Current location: Blairs Museum : The Museum of Scotland’s Catholic Heritage

Museum No.T8011: red velvet chasuble

Description: Roman shaped chasuble in red velvet with gold braid. The main body has been made from velvet obviously cut down and re-used from another garment as it has been pieced to fit the required shape. The figures of saints are worked in silk and laid onto a gold work ground: St Michael slaying the serpent and a figure which may be a bishop but resembles a medieval bishop or an old testament high priest. The embroidery was probably taken from an antependium (altar frontal) or cope and economically reapplied to the chasuble. It was possibly damaged during the Reformation or the Civil Wars of the 17^th century as faces have been slashed for being idolatrous. There is some later-reworking.

Provenance: The chasuble was gifted to Our Lady of Snows R.C. church, Corgarff by David Lumsden, Baron of Cushnie-Lumsden. When the church closed in recent years the collection was transferred to Blairs Museum. The Lumsden family were old Scottish Catholic gentry; Andrew Lumsden supported the Jacobite claim to the throne and was secretary to Charles Edward Stuart. Family properties included Cushnie House (built in 1688), Tillycairn Castle (built 1540), and Pitcaple Castle (c.1560). It is not known where David Lumsden acquired the chasuble but it was potentially saved for use by a heather priest in the family properties or surrounding areas.

Material: Velvet, silk embroidery

Dimensions: 107 cm x 60 cm at widest part

Maker / Artist / Origin: Some features resemble Burgundian work

Date: 15^th Century