jgj jS S3 <-»- <-»• •<» *• «»• <-» 5S5 «• *^ *»• <»- *»- <»• *»• *» <»- »- *»- *»• *- OPUS ANGLICUM (Translated from the French of M. Louis de Farcy) 1AM nothing new to archaeologists or to embroiderers familiar with the literature of ancient documents in saying that the works of the needle, of opere Anglico or agon d'Angleterre, held the first place in inventories during the Middle Ages. find them everywhere, in the treasuries of the Holy See, of our cathedrals, and of our rich abbeys, as well as in the inventories of the Kings of France and of noblemen renowned for their love of beautiful works of art, such as Jean Due de Berri, Louis I. Due d'Anjou, and many others. When in 1854 M. Francisque Michel* telling f We brought to notice the extraordinary ability of the English embroiderers, he added, " It We need not rely upon the more or less laconic text of ancient inventories alone, for we have some authentic specimens of opus Anglicum. Invited to speak at length to the readers of Embroidery, I do so very willingly, as express my it gives me an opportunity to great admiration for the acu pictores of the XHIth and XlVth centuries, who produced so many artistic marvels in England which are to-day scattered throughout Europe. I shall try, then, to explain the technique of the opus Anglicum, to show the popularity which it enjoyed during the Middle Ages, and, finally, to point out the characteristics which distinguish it at first sight from very difficult to say exactly what this work was." He was right. At that time a piece of English embroidery could not be distinguished from that of another country. embroideries of To-day If the material to be ing to the material. decorated with embroidery is a precious stuff, such as velvet, satin, or the like, the draperies of the single or grouped figures will be in If, on the contrary, gold or silver thread. ordinary linen is used (on which the whole is no longer so. Study of the ancient specimens of embroidery spared from time's injury and shown in retrospective exhibitions and private collections, or brought to light from chests where they lay neglected, gives us a clear idea of this ancient work. * age," (i t. it is Recherches sur 11. p. le commerce, la fabrication, I. all other origin. TECHNIQUE Methods of execution et l'usage des etoffes de soie, naturally vary accord- d'or et d'argent pendant 337. IJ 3 le moyen