Category: Germany


  • The Star Witness Project by textile Artist Caren Garfen

    The Star Witness Project by Caren Garfen. The past week saw the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day in my native Netherlands. However, I live in Germany and am of German descent. As Fascism is on the rise again in many countries, I have an important family story to tell—a story that is not often told…

  • Medieval Embroidery Tutorial: Fancy Franconian Face

    In this medieval embroidery tutorial, I will show you how to recreate the lovely female face with the big braids as seen on this 15th-century chasuble. You will practice silk embroidery, padding and beading when recreating this lovely beaded stumpwork portrait of a female saint. Whilst working the medieval embroidery sample using the tutorial on…

  • Medieval Goldwork Embroidery from Franconia, part II

    Last week, we examined a medieval goldwork embroidery chasuble with two different types of stumpwork, dating to the first half of the 15th century and made in the Franconia region of Germany. This week, I have another lovely chasuble for you that also displays medieval goldwork embroidery from two older vestments. You can see the…

  • Medieval Goldwork Embroidery from Franconia, part I

    In the past months, we have examined medieval goldwork embroidery centres in Italy and England. This month, we will explore medieval goldwork embroidery made in the Franconia Region in Germany, which lies just south of the centre of Germany. Important cities include Nuremberg, Würzburg, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Ansbach, Coburg, Meiningen and Schwäbisch Hall. As far as…

  • Pearl-embroidered mitre made by Hans Plock (c. AD 1514)

    Last week and the week before, we looked at beautifully pearl-embroidered mitres from Italy and France. Today, we will look at probably the most spectacular pearl-embroidered mitre of them all: the mitre made by Hans Plock for Cardinal Albert of Brandenburg in AD 1514 in Halle, Germany. The piece is permanently displayed at the Rüstkammer…

  • Goldwork Embroidery Tutorial: a fancy border with triangles

    This week, I have a goldwork embroidery tutorial for you inspired by a late 15th-century embroidered chasuble kept in the Domschatz of Fritzlar. It has these lovely textured bands or borders between the individual orphreys. The border is made by couching gold threads and coloured silks over string padding. It seems to be a very…