Saturday, 21 December 2024

In this season of Advent : 3

In this Holy Season of Advent, we are pleased to present a set of vestments in a distinctive decorative scheme. 

The vestments are constructed from a deeper shade of violet ecclesiastical brocade and fully-lined with Royal Blue taffeta.  The use of a colour scheme of violet, blue and gold is a fitting reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.


Violet vestments


The braid used to ornament these vestments is called Saint Chad, being one of the Studio's unique braids and based directly on the designs of AWN Pugin.

This set is a variation of the Studio's Gothic Revival style and is quite ample.


Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.


Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com


Information on placing an order.


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

AMDG

Friday, 20 December 2024

A Rose by any other name, but Pink


Twice a year, the Church breaks the tone of its penitential seasons by the use of rose-coloured vestments.  Rose-coloured vestments were never commonplace and they still are not.  Nevertheless, you will find various pronouncements these days (usually on websites) about what the real or authentic shade of rose is which is to be used for vestments.

Newsflash: there is no official shade of Rose designated by the Church, nor has there ever been.  One reason for this is rather simple: only in the nineteenth century did the process of dyeing fabric become sufficiently sophisticated to ensure that much the same shade of a colour emerged from one batch of fabric dyeing to another.

Many different colours have been deemed by the Church as acceptable as liturgical Rose.  Some of these are a salmon shade; some a silvery-pink, almost mushroom-colour; some close to what we would call Bishop's purple or fuchsia.

Another thing is certain: Bubblegum Pink is not Rose, nor has it been a traditional variation for use on these days. Whilst not intending to get into the argument as to whether the use of pink (be it vibrant or subdued) is a fitting colour for a man to wear, Bubblegum Pink certainly manifests a lamentable lack of liturgical good taste. And yet we find so many pink vestments for sale from ecclesiastical suppliers etc.

 Pope Paul VI greeting a priest
after Mass in Saint Peter's on Laetare Sunday 1978.
Both are wearing rose 
chasubles made from dupion silk.
Image: L'Osservatore Romano
Adjacent are two pictures of another shade of Rose. These are sets of vestments worn by Pope Paul VI on Laetare Sunday, 1978. The vestments are made from dupion silk of a very subdued silvery-rose.  Ornamenting them is a column-orphrey almost fuchsia in colour.  Sadly, these vestments have not been seen in Papal Masses of recent years:  lamentable sets of brighter pink vestments, of rather unimaginative fabric and design, have been used instead (not to be looked at before breakfast).

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

Rose Vestments in the Gothic Revival Style

Although Gaudete Sunday last for just one day in Advent, the Studio is pleased to feature other rose-coloured vestments over the next several days.


The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.


This set of vestments is made from dupion silk in a deeper shade of rose and lined in a lighter rose shade of taffeta. 


Rose vestments


The orphrey of this chasuble is formed from one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique  braids called Rose Antiqua.  This lovely braid, which has been designed especially for use with Rose and Indigo-violet vestments, is not in our usual Gothic Revival style, but is based on Arts & Crafts themes, with stylised flowers.  


Click on the image for an enlarged view.


The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Information on placing an order.



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


AMDG

Sunday, 15 December 2024

Gaudete Sunday 2024

The Saint Bede Studio
On Gaudete Sunday in this Holy Season of Advent, the Studio is pleased to feature these rose-coloured vestments,
made from dupion silk and lined in a silver-grey shade of taffeta. 

The orphrey of this chasuble is formed from one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique  braids called Saint Edmund.  This lovely braid, based on the designs of AWN Pugin, is available in three different colour-ways.


The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.


Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Rose vestments


The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Information on placing an order.



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


AMDG

Friday, 13 December 2024

In this Advent Season : 2

Violet vestments
In this Holy Season of Advent, we are pleased to present a set of vestments in a distinctive decorative scheme. 

The vestments are constructed from a deeper shade of violet ecclesiastical brocade and fully-lined with Royal Blue taffeta.  The use of a colour scheme of violet, blue and gold is a fitting reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

The braid used to ornament these vestments is called Saint Chad, being one of the Studio's unique braids and based directly on the designs of AWN Pugin.

These vestments are a variation on the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-made imitations!

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.


Violet vestments


Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.


Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com


Information on placing an order.


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

AMDG

Tuesday, 10 December 2024

In this Advent Season : 1

In this Holy Season of Advent, we are pleased to present a set of vestments of simple dignity, made in the traditional Roman style. The vestments are constructed from a lighter shade of violet ecclesiastical brocade and fully-lined in a grey cloth. The chasuble in this post is ornamented in the well-known Roman style, a TAU at the front and a column at the back, formed simply by an outlining silver-grey galloon.

Violet vestments

Silver ornament upon violet is a distinctive manner of ornamenting vestments for the Seasons of Advent and Lent and a little more subdued than the all-too-common use of gold.

These vestments are in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-made imitations!

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com


Information on placing an order.


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

AMDG

Sunday, 8 December 2024

On the Immaculate Conception

The Saint Bede Studio
On this beautiful 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.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

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. 

Ave Maris Stella

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.

Ave Maris Stella

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 for your vestments 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.

Click on the image for an enlarged view. 


Ave Maris Stella


The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.


Enquiries.


Information on placing an order.




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


AMDG

Saturday, 7 December 2024

Violet Gothic Revival Vestments

The Saint Bede Studio
During this Holy Season of Advent, the Studio is pleased to feature these vestments,
made from dupion silk and lined in a subtle lavender shade of taffeta. 

The orphrey of this chasuble is formed from one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique  braids called Rosa Antiqua.  The braid has been especially designed for use with Rose and Indigo-violet vestments.


The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.


Click on the images for an enlarged view.


Violet vestments


The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.


Enquiries.


Information on placing an order.




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


AMDG

Monday, 2 December 2024

Liturgical Colours of Advent (Re-visited)

The Saint Bede Studio
At the beginning of this beautiful Season of Advent, we return to a commentary posted previously on the Saint Bede Studio blog concerning the liturgical colour proper to Advent.

It is often asserted by liturgical commentators and other internet experts, that there are "correct" colours for the vestments used during Lent and Advent.  Curious as to the history of these colours in Liturgical use, some years ago we researched and posted an article ( here and here ) about the use of penitential colours for the Seasons of Advent and Lent. If you have wondered what colour the Church recommends for these Seasons, you might find the article illuminating.

A short answer is that there is no particular shade of liturgical violet specified for Advent or Lent.
  
Adjacent is an historic work of art to illustrate the practice of our forebears. This work was painted by an artist known as The Master of Osservanza in the year 1440 and depicts a Low Mass being offered at a side chapel in the Siena Cathedral (Italy).

The following are some observations about this painting.  The chasuble being worn by the celebrant is violet: in other words, much the same colour as the flower "violets". It is a blue-ish colour, not purple and it is not too dark either.  But neither is it blue, as has been suggested in some commentaries.  

The chasuble is the full conical shape and is ornamented with a simple column-orphrey of dark fabric (possibly even black). Most likely, the front of the chasuble would have been decorated with the familiar "tau". The celebrant is wearing decorative apparels on his alb and amice, which match the colour of the chasuble's ornament. That is a very typical practice of the Mediaeval period. Note, too, the very full folds of the alb.

We see, also, that the boy (or young cleric) assisting the celebrant is wearing a full-length surplice, according to the style typically found in Renaissance Italy. Those who claim that such surplices are a "Church of England" garment should note this well.

Lastly, the altar itself. It is clothed in a dark antependium or altar frontal, ornamented with scarlet red. On the altar is a Crucifix and a single candle. Although it may seem peculiar that there is but a single candle instead of a pair, it might be remarked that not until the 16th century was it a usual practice to have a pair of candlesticks on an altar.  We might also note that the candle itself is a golden colour, rather than white.

Is this painting illustrating a Low Mass (as we would refer to it) celebrated in Advent or Lent?  That could not be claimed with certainty.  But the sombre nature of the vestments and altar clothing suggests a penitential character to the occasion.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Saturday, 30 November 2024

On the Feast of S' Andrew the Apostle

The Saint Bede Studio
On this Feast of the Apostle, Andrew and the last day of the Liturgical year, we are pleased to present these red vestments, in an ample Gothic style.  

The set is constructed from dupion silk in a rich shade of crimson-red.  There is a black cross-weave in the fabric giving the set the appearance of a darker and distinctive red. 

The ornament is in the English style and is formed from an orphrey braid in colours of red and straw-gold upon blue.  This braid, named Saint Chad, is one of the unique braids of the Saint Bede Studio and directly based on the work of Gothic Revival luminary AWN Pugin.  The use of a simple quatrefoil galloon in straw-gold upon blue outlines the chasuble.


The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.


Red vestments


 
Click on the images for an enlarged view. 

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.


Enquiries.


Information on placing an order.




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

AMDG