Art for divine services

In the Middle Ages, special attention was paid to the expression of faith through the ritual arrangement of divine services. This included prayers and hymns as well as the outfitting of the clergy with sumptuous vestments and the lighting of incense and candles. Liturgical vessels and instruments made of precious metals such as chalice and paten, altar crosses, censers and candleholders, but also many ornately worked textiles were an integral part of the solemn ceremony. The textile artworks, which played a significant role in the celebration of Mass and the furnishing of church interiors, were made out of sumptuous materials and were a fixed part of the church treasury.

For reasons of conservation, textiles are not always on display in the permanent collection.

Gilded goblet with star-shaped foot.

Chalice, Cologne, c. 1330, re-gilded silver, silver champlevé, H. 19.5 cm, Inv. No. G 32, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Gold plated bowl.

Paten (plate for the Host), German, late 15th cent., gilt copper, Ø 13 cm, Inv. No. G 481, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Gilded monstrance with many pointed turrets.

Monstrance, Cologne, c. 1425-1450, gilt copper with glass cylinder, h. 72 cm, inv. G 563, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Filigree cross with gold plating. The base is made of rock crystal set in gold.

Altar Cross on a Rock Crystal Pedestal, Cologne, c. 1400, gilt silver, rock crystal, 26 x 9.3 cm, Inv. No. G 39, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Ornate bronze egg-shaped vessel with perforations with chains and a hanger for carrying

Censer, Aachen (?), 9th cent., cast bronze, H. 10.2 cm, inv. no. H 46, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Rounded vessel with filigree beadwork. On the lid there is a golden cross.

Pearl Ciborium (Container for the Consecrated Host), Hildesheim, c. 1250-1300, wooden core, embroidery with glass, freshwater pearls, corals and metal appliques on parchment, H. 18.5 cm, Inv. No. N 42, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Golden chasuble. The embroidery on the robe depicts the crucifixion of Christ.

Chasuble (vestment for the Mass) with Embroidered Crucifixion Scene, vestment fabric: silk, velvet, Florence, c. 1475; chasuble cross: gold and silk embroidery on linen, Middle Rhine, c. 1490-1500, 109 x 70 cm, Inv. No. P 176, © Museum Schnütgen, Photo: Thomas Zwillinger

Blue chasuble with embroidered angels.

Chasuble (vestment for the Mass) with Embroidered Angels, vestment fabric: silk, 15th cent.?; embroidery: gold and colourful silk embroidery on red silk, Rhineland or Cologne, borders: Cologne, c. 1450/1500, 116.3 x 70.5 cm, Inv. No. P 214, © Museum Schnütgen, Photo: Thomas Zwillinger

Golden robe with fine floral embroidery.

Dalmatic (vestment of office of a deacon) from the Altenberg Cathedral Vestments, Italy, Venice?, c. 1700-1715, silver and silk embroidery on linen, 105 x 112.5 cm, Inv. No. 335 d, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Comb with a carved image of the crucifixion of Jesus and 2 angels above it

So-called Comb of St. Heribert, Metz, ca 870, ivory, 19 x 12 cm, Inv. No. B 100, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

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