The Queen Mary Stuart Vestment
The Queen Mary Stuart Vestment
Current location: Blairs Museum : The Museum of Scotland’s Catholic Heritage
Museum No.T8055: Floral Roman shaped chasuble, silk stitches on linen.
Description: Worked in design of stylised polychrome flowers in fine Gobelin silk stitches on linen. The chasuble has been constructed from pieces of embroidered fabric, possibly hangings which have been pieced together to form the body. The seams being hidden by the braid for the most part. 19th century braid applied.
Provenance: Legend attributes part of the work to Mary, Queen of Scots but no written provenance exists. Textile Historian Margaret Swain discounts this and draws analogies with other items in the Thurn und Taxis collection pointing to an origin in South Germany. There are also affinities in the use of flowers and silk work to a Coronation Chasuble in Esztergom Cathedral in Hungary. The vestment was gifted by the Lumsden Family to Blairs Seminary. 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). Mary Queen of Scots visited Pitcaple Castle in 1562.
Material: Silk and linen
Dimensions: 108cm x 70cm
Maker / Artist / Origin: European/ South German
Date: Mid-16th Century