Acupictrix – Dr Jessica Grimm

Cartoon of a medieval lady embroidering Medieval Goldwork Embroidery.

Medieval Splendour in gold thread and silk

The Acupictrix, alias Dr Jessica Grimm, writes a weekly blog on medieval goldwork embroidery and related topics.

Dr Jessica Grimm is a member of Centre International d’Etude des Textiles Ancienes (CIETA), Bundesverband Kunsthandwerk, MEDATS and S.E.W.

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15th century, 16th century, Low Countries

Mass-produced medieval goldwork embroidery: The Adoration of the Magi

If you have followed this blog for a while, you already know that medieval goldwork embroidery was mass-produced. The designs were used more than once, sometimes even on the same vestment. Survived have mainly the simpler single-figure orphreys or the, possibly block-printed, naive embroidered scenes from Germany. But… Read More
16th century, Low Countries

Late medieval vestments in the St Nicolai Church in Kalkar, part II

Last week, I wrote about the embroidered late medieval vestments on display in the St Nicolai Church in Kalkar. We looked in depth at the richly embroidered chasuble donated by Wolter van Riswick in AD 1530. This week, we’ll examine a splendidly embroidered cope and dalmatic, also kept… Read More
16th century, Low Countries

Late Medieval Vestments in the St. Nicolai Church in Kalkar, part I

Last year, I visited the St Nicolai Church in Kalkar. The church inventory lists more than 100 medieval vestments in AD 1543. Read More
15th century, Germany, Tutorial

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… Read More