This design was inspired by the beautiful goldwork orphreys found on vestments in the Low Countries dating to the late 15th and early 16th century. The background is closely modelled on BMH t622 and ABM t2114, both from the late 15th century and held at the Museum Catharijne Convent in the Netherlands.
The central figure in an orphrey is always a religious human figure. A characteristic of the orphreys from the Low Countries is that these figures are largely worked in or nué in the early 16th century. For our secular version, I’ve chosen a poppy from a contemporary illuminated manuscript: the Bourdichon Hours. This richly illustrated prayer book was made in Bruges (Southern Netherlands) in the early 16th century. We know that the same artists made drawings which different craftsmen, such as sculptors and embroiderers used. It is thus entirely possible that a secular early 16th-century orphrey would have looked something like this.
The finished embroidery measures c. 15 x 10 cm. This course is part of a monthly or yearly membership. Become a member!