In the Season of Advent

During this holy Season of Advent, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present a set of violet vestments completed this year for a returning customer.  

This distinctive set of vestments was made from silk dupion in a lighter hue of violet; it was lined with a taffeta in a very dark shade of blue.  The colour of the vestment inclines towards blue; but it is distinctly violet, as distinct from purple or blue.

The chasuble is in the style we call Saint Cuthbert,  being a contemporary version of a mediaeval chasuble.  The chasuble is very ample, being both wide and long, and is ornamented with a narrow braid in the familiar "Y" arrangement.  

The braid ornamenting these vestments is purple and ivory, upon a black base.  It is complemented by a narrow galloon in a lighter shade.

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AMDG

Festal Vestments

We are pleased to present these images of a distinctive set of vestments recently made by the Studio for an esteemed customer in New Jersey (USA).  This set was made according to the size of chasubles of the 16th century, being more a variant than a reproduction of such vestments.  They were made from a delightful brocade with a floriated woven design in gold and chocolate brown upon a  base colour of ivory.  The vestments were lined in silk taffeta in a beautiful and muted shade of green.

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The vestments were ornamented with a vintage orphrey braid made of silk; it features a Cross in two shades of gold upon a vibrant yellow base.  

These vestments were ornamented with a simple column, back and front, which is attached to the chasuble.  We might say a little more about this ornament.  An unfortunate trend in vestment-making is employing a column of great width to ornament the chasuble.  Sometimes this amounts almost to 30 cm (12") !  This always looks disproportionate, even unseemly.    

The column orphreys made by the Studio to ornament our chasubles are constructed to careful measurements.  Often we use one of our unique braids as the basis for such columns, which we enhance by running a galloon along either side.  The above photograph shews just such an arrangement.  The wider orphrey braid is carefully arranged at the neckline and the bottom of the chasuble, so that its particular decoration is not truncated.  In this case, the particular is a stylised Cross, which is repeated at intervals along the orphrey.  A galloon of knotwork in burgundy and gold has been mounted on either side of the wider orphrey braid.  This same galloon is run around the perimeter of the chasuble and the neckline.  For most of our chasubles, the perimeter is trimmed with a narrow galloon.  

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Enquiries

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Salve Regina

In this post, we are pleased to present images of a set of vestments recently made for a Catholic Cathedral in the United Kingdom.  These vestments were made from a silk damask of floriated design and were lined in a taffeta of a lovely shade of sea-blue. 

This set of vestments employs a new Marian orphrey braid, designed by the Studio, which we call Salve Regina.  We should describe this braid.

It employs two shades of blue, one a sea blue, which is the base colour, the other Royal Blue and upon these two colours, the ornamental design is figured in (non-metallic) gold and in ivory.

Within a Royal blue monogram is a stylised design of the fleur de lis, surmounted by a golden crown.  Separating these monograms is a bar of inscription with the Latin words SALVE  and  REGINA (Hail, O Queen).  

This new braid is formed from elements of a Marian braid by the Gothic designer AWN Pugin.  No matter whether you shop in Poland, India, England or America, you will not find another braid like Salve Regina.  It is just one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique braids, designed by the writer of this blog and made exclusively for the Studio's use.

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Enquiries

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

During the Month of the Holy Souls : 2

During this, the Month of the Holy Souls, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present sets of black vestments recently completed for our customers.  The post is a continuation from the previous post.

These sets of vestments were ornamented very simply and in a colour scheme of silver and black.  The clavi of the dalmatic were formed from a narrow galloon in silver and grey, whilst the apparel - at chest-height - was enhanced by the use of a black brocade.  The dalmatic was lined with a silvery-grey taffeta.

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Enquiries

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

During the Month of the Holy Souls : 1

During this, the Month of the Holy Souls, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present sets of black vestments recently completed for our customers.  The first is a Solemn Mass set and in this post we discuss its chasuble.

The chasuble was made according to the most ancient form of the chasuble, sometimes called the conical form.  It is quite different from the Gothic Revival chasuble in that its shoulder seams are steeply sloped and very long indeed.  It resembles the shape of a cope, but not open at the front.

These vestments were ornamented very simply and in a colour scheme of silver and black.  The chasuble's orphrey was formed from a narrow galloon in silver and grey, whilst the chasuble's lining was formed from a silvery-grey taffeta.

The image above illustrates how a conical chasuble falls around on all sides when the arms of the celebrant are by his side.

A further post will illustrate the different ways in which the conical chasuble can be worn.

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Enquiries

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Festal Vestments in the Gothic Revival Style

We are pleased to present these images of a set of vestments recently made by the Studio for a Parish in the Archdiocese of Sydney (Australia).   This set is made in the Gothic Revival style and is pointed at the lower edge of the chasuble front and back.

Our customer requested a set of vestments with an understated design and we produced something with the colour scheme of ivory, buttercup yellow and red.  The ground fabric is a beautiful English floriated brocade in a shade of ivory.  The vestments were lined in taffeta in a muted shade, buttercup. 

These vestments were ornamented in the Gothic manner with one of the Studio's unique braids in shades of red, burgundy and straw gold; it is called Saint Giles.  This braid we have used over the years to ornament vestments in all the Liturgical colours, with the exception of Rose.  It is distinctive because the figured ornament of this braid is very restrained and punctuates the basic red colour.  This simple ornament is effective from a great distance.  This braid is woven for the sole use of the Saint Bede Studio.

For most of our chasubles, the perimeter is trimmed with a narrow galloon.  Such galloons, too, have been woven for the Studio's exclusive use.  In this instance, the galloon is a simple design of quatrefoils in gold upon a red base.

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Enquiries

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

During troubled times for the Church

Almighty, Eternal God, by ever giving strength to our weakness, you enable the Church to flourish even amidst its trials, so that when it appears to men to be utterly cast down, then rather does it gloriously prevails. Whilst then, it accepts affliction as a proving of its faith, let it persevere, by your grace, in triumphant loyalty. Amen.

A Collect from the Missal of Robert of Jumieges, 11th century.

This image of The Protection of the Mother of God is an exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On this Feast of the Blessed Virgin, we are pleased to present these images of one of the Studio's most popular sets of vestments, which we call Ave Maris Stella.  This is made in various Gothic styles and from different fabrics, but always and is ornamented with the now-familiar braid.

We should describe this braid, for those who have not followed previous posts closely.  It employs two shades of blue, one a sky blue, the other Royal Blue and upon these two colours, the ornamental design is figured in (non-metallic) gold.

Within a Royal blue quatrefoil (four-leafed flower) is a stylised monogram being the letters MR.  This is the Latin abbreviation of Maria Regina (Mary the Queen).  It was very typical in the Mediaeval period for such monograms to appear as decorative schemes in churches and upon vestments. 

These quatrefoils alternate with another emblem, which is upon a light blue base.  Here is a crown emphasising the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin.  Below it, in heraldic lettering, is the greeting AVE.  From this is derived the name of this braid and based on the beautiful Marian antiphon Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea).

Running along either side of this orphrey is a row of smaller quatrefoils in gold, upon the Royal Blue base.

Although not directly-based on the work of the Gothic designer AWN Pugin, this Ave Maris Stella braid incorporates Puginesque elements.  No matter whether you shop in Poland, India, England or America, you will not find another braid like Ave Maris Stella.  It is just one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique braids, designed by the writer of this blog and made exclusively for the Studio's use.

In further posts, we will present some of our other unique Marian braids and a new one, recently-manufactured titled Salve Regina.

Click on the image for an enlarged view. 

Enquiries.

AMDG

Priestly Ordinations for 2023 : 1

In this post, we are pleased to describe a set of vestments in the Gothic Revival style, which was commissioned by an ordinand from the United States.

These vestments were made from a lovely ivory-coloured English ecclesiastical brocade and lined in a muted shade of golden taffeta.  

The vestments were ornamented with one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique braids called Saint Edmund, directly based on the work of the famed designer of the Gothic Revival AWN Pugin. 

The appearance of this vestment is autumnal and cheerful, without being lavish. 

Please pray for all newly-ordained priests.

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Enquiries : This page.

AMDG 

In times of Disturbance

A prayer composed by the Saint Bede Studio.