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Source Description
This piece has been identified as a veil used to cover the chalice that holds the wine until the moment of communion in a Catholic Mass. The central monogram (IHS) abbreviates the name of Christ in Greek, surrounded by a circle of rays that indicate a holy symbol. The technique is of needle lace, knotted in an irregular pattern (<em>mezza mandolina</em>) and darned in two directions.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
100775
label
Chalice Veil with Monogram of Christ
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
100775
contentType
object
title
Chalice Veil with Monogram of Christ
description
This piece has been identified as a veil used to cover the chalice that holds the wine until the moment of communion in a Catholic Mass. The central monogram (IHS) abbreviates the name of Christ in Greek, surrounded by a circle of rays that indicate a holy symbol. The technique is of needle lace, knotted in an irregular pattern (<em>mezza mandolina</em>) and darned in two directions.
date
1500s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79493344
genreSpecific
Lace
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 52.1 x 53.3 cm (20 1/2 x 21 in.)
cul
Italy
accession
1920.1156
Source extras
tec
Bleached linen(?): needle lace (mezza mandolina) with red silk thread
tombstone
Chalice Veil with Monogram of Christ, 1500s. Italy. Bleached linen(?): needle lace (mezza mandolina) with red silk thread; overall: 52.1 x 53.3 cm (20 1/2 x 21 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1920.1156
collection
T - Ecclesiastical
inscriptions
inscription
"I H S" in center.
didYouKnow
The monogram for Christ derives from the first three letters in his name in Greek – ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. The Greek letter Σ (sigma) is written as an “S” in English.
citations
citation
Ricci, Elisa. Old Italian Lace. 1913.
page_number
p. 38-39; no.99
citation
Levey, Santina M. Lace: A History. [London]: Victoria & Albert Museum, 2004.
page_number
p. 18-19
creditline
Gift of J. H. Wade
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:26:55.389000
sourceId
100775
dept
Textiles
coll
T - Ecclesiastical
med
Bleached linen(?): needle lace (mezza mandolina) with red silk thread
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
7e984b2017603a9c