*Online event*
In between lockdowns, Jessica Grimm was able to visit the exhibition “Die Bamberger Kaisergewänder unter der Lupe – Methoden und Ergebnisse der aktuellen Forschungen“ (The Bamberg imperial vestments under scrutiny – Methods and latest research results) at the Diocesan museum in Bamberg, Germany. These so-called Kaisergewänder consist of the famous Star Mantle of Emperor Henry II (AD 973-1024), the Reitermantle, the blue and the white Kunigund mantles (Empress Kunigund (AD 980-1033) was Henry’s wife), a tunica and a rationale. All silken vestments were elaborately embroidered with precious near-pure gold threads in the first quarter of the 11th-century. For the past five years, an interdisciplinary team of researchers has extensively researched these unique vestments and the results formed the basis of this exhibition.
In this informal chat, Jessica will show many pictures of these vestments and talk about the goldwork embroidery on them. As the once brightly coloured silken couching stitches have faded over time, she will also show small reconstructions she did of the blue Kunigund mantle for a virtual embroidery workshop taught for the Bamberg Diocesan Museum on International Museum Day 2021 and part of the lettering on the Star Mantle for a Conference in 2019. The exhibition runs until the 30th of September 2021.
This is a members only online event. MEDATS Members will be sent a Zoom link to register for the event.
If you are not yet a member of MEDATS, membership costs just £15 annually and includes access to other online events like this, plus a subscription to our newsletter, and a discount on live events too. To become a MEDATS member, click here: https://www.medats.org.uk/membership/
Image: Kunigund Mantle detail, credit: Jessica Grimm
