Gold Embroidered Mitre

Gold embroidered mitre, mid-19th century, England. Gold embroidered mitre, mid-19th century, England. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.299&A-1989.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London houses a gold-embroidered mitre, made of silk and further decorated with gemstones, which was designed by Augustus W.N. Pugin (1812-1852) around 1848-1850, for the St. Augustine's Abbey, which Pugin had built on the grounds of his own house in Ramsgate. The mitre was probably produced by the firm of Lonsdale and Tylor.

The scrolling foliage and flowers are characteristic for the Gothic revival style of Augustus Pugin, who was also responsible for much of the interior design of the Palace of Westminster in London. He designed the mitre shortly before his premature death, after shortly having been admitted to the Bedlam asylum (now the site of the Imperial War Museum) following his exertions over the design of the Palace.

The mitre is part of a set of ecclesiastical garments and textiles designed by Pugin; see also V&A T.297I-1989.

V&A online catalogue V&A online catalogue(retrieved 10 November 2016).

WV

Last modified on Thursday, 10 November 2016 20:28