Altarworthy Handmade Vestments
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New ordination set takes shape: in thickest embroidery yet

Watch this space as we finish an ordination set for a deacon completing his studies in Rome and about to be ordained to the holy priesthood here in the States.

The floral design of passion flowers and grape leaves was inspired by a time-worn antique, past its' useful life. While the antique design was a starting point, its' liturgical symbols were personalized to suit the devotions of the deacon.

On the chasuble front, a pair of stags bow below the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On the back, the Lamb is encircled by a crown of thorns, standing on a leather book of seals of red garnet gemstones.

Please pray for our seminarians and priests!
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Blessing and Instruction...
anything but ordinary

     When Fr. Justin Braun, Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, Texas blessed his new vestments, he did so in an extraordinary way.
     Vestments are typically blessed privately in the sacristy before their first use on the altar. Fr. Braun chose to share this joy with his parishioners publicly before Mass.
     He then vested -- praying the vesting prayers of each piece, and explaining their significance and meaning to the priest during his preparation for holy Mass.
     What a rare privilege to witness both of these events and to more deeply understand the purpose of sacramental vestments in the worship of Our Lord on the altar.
 
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Blessing the set.
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Praying the vesting prayers.
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Procession to the altar before Mass.

Three Mass of Thanksgiving Sets...

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ST. CHARLES BORROMEO... A silk damask chasuble in the style of St. Charles Borromeo for a newly ordained priest in St. Louis, Missouri. (click to see more)
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SOLEMN HIGH MASS...Three pieces of a 13 piece set made in real metal brocade for a newly ordained priest in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (click to see more)
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SOLEMN HIGH MASS...Three pieces of the Solemn High Mass set in white and gold brocade for a newly ordained priest in Tyler, TX.

 

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This white and real metal brocade was made into a Solemn High Mass set for the First Mass of a newly ordained priest in Texas.

Holy Mother Church provides an abundance of rich symbolism for this set...

Signifying the 5 wounds of Christ, faceted garnets ("carbuncles" of old) are stitched on the points and center of 19 bullion crosses.

A handmade embroidery of passion-flowers in gold bullion surround an antique Agnus Dei embroidery incorporate into this set.  (Learn more about Church symbolism on the "What is that?" page.)


We just couldn't stop with the Benediction Set!

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We loved the Marian Benediction set's embroidery so much, we designed a Low Mass set too! Garlands of white lilies and pale pink roses (Our Lady's flowers) in hand embroidered silk and Japan gold threads.
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Real garnets and pearls embellish the crowned monogram on the back of the chasuble's cross -- a field of very pale blue silk.
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A Benediction Set to Honor Our Lady

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This three piece Benediction Set was inspired by the antique fragment below.

The lilies, roses and pearls sewn into its' design are all symbolic of Our Lady. Hand embroidered in silk, Japan gold, metallic and bullion threads, we used real pearls and garnet gemstones. We were even able to locate the same unusual wide flat pearls as in the original. The handwork in this embroidery is "truly to die for".

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The inspiration for the set.
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Basketweave detail of the crown.
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A closeup of the hand-embroidered silk, metal and Japan gold threads.

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The finished design of chasuble consists of all new hand embroideries of passion flowers and the text "Ecce Agnus Dei" surrounding an antique embroidery (red center).
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Close up detail of the equisite handwork.


“…
it is indispensably necessary for the ecclesiastical artists, not only to understand the true forms and symbolical significations of the sacred vestments and other adornments of the church, but also how to apply the various decorations in a consistent manner to the edification of the faithful, and as lively illustrations of the Sacred Mysteries.”   
                                                             -- Augustus Welby Pugin
                      from Glossary of Ecclesiastical Ornament and Costume, 1868 
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A brand new hand-embroidered Lamb of God. The metal bullion "wool" fibers are the same as those in the antique below -- though new and untarnished. The face and legs are silk.

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An antique embroidery resumes its place of honor.
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Fr. Saguto, FSSP, blesses the Parish's new vestments before their first use at the High Mass on Pentecost Sunday. (Watch the Latin Rite Blessing of Vestments by clicking the link: 'What is That'.)
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Still available today, the finished chasuble includes the same "spiral" style gold galloons (French for "ribbon") just as in the antique model.
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All Dominican Souls Solemn High Requiem Mass

Fr. Boniface Willard, O.P. blesses a 14 piece Solemn High Requiem Mass Set prior
to it's first use on the altar, November 8, 2012 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle, WA.

The set is made of a lovely black and silver metal brocade. The black velvet orphreys of the gothic style chasuble, cope, burse, humeral and chalice veil are adorned with hand embroidered passionflowers in silver metal and bullion threads. The dalmatic dimensions were "lifted" from an existing antique in the diocese. Solemn sets are usually 12-13 pieces in size. The fourteenth piece here is the "mappa" which rests across the laps of the celebrant and deacons when seated during particular parts of the Mass.

Click the photos below to see this beautiful Dominican Parish, Blessed Sacrament, as well as a few details of their new set.

Read also on New Liturgical Movement about the vestments.


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A MOCKUP - We create new vestments from clients' antique photos.

We recreate the treasures of the past...


Combining the highest quality materials and workmanship with careful research of beautiful  surviving antique vestments, we are able to create sets like the treasures that  once graced our Holy Catholic altars. 

The real metal red brocade chasuble you see here is part of a new Solemn High Mass set. The parish who commissioned this set found an intact 12-piece antique set they loved, but simply could not afford the price to purchase.

We were able to replicate the design of that longed-for antique set for a fraction of the cost of the original pieces. Of course, we retained the high quality materials found in the original set. We used real metal brocade, handloomed silk, gold bullion fringe and even antique embroideries.

The result was even more brilliant than the years-old set and more durable. But more importantly, it is ready for years of worship at the Holy altar.

Our Vestments are made of...
·       silk damasks
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real metal-woven fabrics and trims
·       genuine freshwater pearls, garnets, and gemstones as appropriate
·       brocades and rich velvets
·       hand-made gold bullion embroideries and fringes
·       100% linen and 100% hand-loomed silks for linings
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unbleached muslin and canvas for interfacings

We take care to lift the dimensions directly from surviving pieces whenever possible, to retain the integrity of the traditional styles as needed. We also insure that Church symbolism is designed into every piece just as the vestments of old -- retaining the age-old traditions and meanings that used to be handed down among vestment makers.

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