White Chasuble

Here's a sneak peek of one of my next projects. I do not know its age or history other than it used to belong to the late Fr. Alfred Kunz of a parish in the Madison, WI diocese. He was murdered many years ago, and his case is still unsolved. The current caretaker has asked me to see what I can patch it up a bit. The hand embroidery is exquisite, and has held up pretty well. However, some of the goldwork is coming loose, and a little of the embroidery has completely worn away. That, and, the silk onto which it was worked is decaying. Next to the embroidery the background fabric by the left side panel is tattered and worn. This is most likely because of friction from the maniple rubbing against it. The trim along the neck is worn, too, but is fine in a "patch up" scenario.

This is the back. Again, the embroidery is amazing. It's in great repair here, which is quite a relief. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is in need of some repairs, though. There are red markings on the nimbus (halo) that are worn, the heart is missing mos of the thorns, and Jesus' sleeve has worn away from the border in the lower left. There is also a little goldwork that is coming loose. Inside the neck, the gold lining is frayed extensively.

I was also given the maniple and stole (not original to the set, I don't think) that need the trim reattached.

THE PLAN

The Sacred Heart will be rather straight forward in repair: reattaching goldwork, adding the red back to the nimbus, and re-affixing the sleeve.

For the neck, I think I will trim the frayed ends and stabilize it from continuing. Then, I think that instead of finding a matching, or close to matching gold colored lining, I may attach a couple layers of linen, that can be removed and laundered as necessary.

On the front, this will be the most challenging. Do I re-lay the embroidery on new silk and linen? Or trim and stabilize the remaining silk? Do I finish the worn away embroidery? Do just re-attach the goldwork? What about the panel-- do I re-weave it? There isn't any fabric that matches exactly in order to do a patch.

Well, that's about it for now. We're getting ready for a much anticipated week at the cabin, and I only have a day and a half to get ready. Lots to think about this week.