EXQUISITE GOLD COPE - ca. 1780 - Extraordinary Vestment Start Price USD 2,995.00 Current Price USD 2,995.00 Time Left 2 days 16 hours Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 11, 2008 End Time Saturday, January 10, 2009 Location Deming, New Mexico See more about 'EXQUISITE GOLD COPE - ca. 1780 - Extraordinary Vestment' Description elder123 Store EXQUISITE GOLD COPE - ca. 1780 - Extraordinary Vestment Please scroll down to see 23 additional photos! Absolutely exquisite cope that dates ca. 1780 fashioned in magnificently loomed cloth of gold with outstanding orphreys, fringes, galloons and condition. It is hard to know where to even begin with this piece!  Let's begin with the base material! Look carefully at the pictures and you will see that this magnificently loomed cloth of gold is far more than just the ordinary!  Note the overlay gold pattern that covers the base fabric - outstanding workmanship! On top of the base silk cloth of gold fabric has been handworked a series of fleur d' lis, each one exquisitely hand worked using a method referred to as "couch" work, where their is a three dimension to each embroidery. The Orphreys down the front AND around the HEM (almost unheard of on most vestments - except for those that are extremely important and expensive) are again superb hand work in multi-coloured silk threads. The hood has the symbol of the Pelican and her young - again in only the finest of silk and metallic threads applied with outstanding skill and workmanship over 200 years ago! Lastly, but certainly not least, note the coloured fringe around the hood.  This is the only time I have seen this type of fringe in anything but solid gold colour, and we have literally dealt with thousands of vestments over the years. The silk lining on the piece is in poor condition, note the photos, and there are some water stains on the back of the cope, once again note the photos.  The water stains may be minimalized by a conservator, but I think they are permanent.  Obviously the lining, if the cope were to be used would have to be repaired or replaced. Due to the extraordinary condition, workmanship and quality of this piece, it should really be used for display in a collection only.  Fabrics and textiles of any quality, will not hold up to extensive use when this age.\ This piece would unquestionably be the piece de resistance in any fabulous collection of textiles, especially Liturgical items. The reserve on this piece is set at $4,500. - a fraction of its value. Packaged weight for shipping on this piece is 12 pounds, we are always happy to combine items to save on postage! We have been asked to liquidate a huge collection of Christian religious artifacts (Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox) that were assembled by an avid collector over a period of several decades and from various corners of the globe! The collection is comprised of literally hundreds of vestments (including copes, chasubles, mitres, maniples, chalice veils, stoles, maniples, altar linens, lace suplices and albs, etc., etc., etc. from the 1750's to the contemporary) statues, crosses, chalice, ciborium, tabernacles, Missale Romanum, Prayer Books, Hymnals, and a multitude of other items we are still unpacking and inventorying!  Please check back with us as we will be listing these wonderful religious artifacts on an almost daily basis for weeks to come. For sake of convenience, we will list them under "Religious Items" in our eBay store if you want to see only the religious auctions. Please contact us with any questions! Click on the "Sign up for Store newsletter" to receive a weekly update directly from eBay which will keep you informed of our new listings! We do NOT accept PayPal at this time.  For Domestic (USA) sales, we welcome your cheque, money order, cashier's cheque, VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card! For International (ouside USA) sales, we welcome your VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card!At checkout you will be directed to a secure site (provided by Auctiva) where you can enter your payment preference. Thank you, again! We try to ship within 48 hours of payment receipt (we do wait for personal cheques to clear).  We only charge actual postage, never a charge for handling or packaging.  We are delighted to combine shipments to save on postage. We do ask, however, that if you are bidding on multiple items you drop us a line to advise us that you want to combine auctions! All sales are final, unless we have misrepresented a piece.  Please contact us if you are not happy with an item and we will try to work out an equitable solution.  We liquidate estates and collections.  We never know what will turn up next!  Check the subscribe to e-mail on any of our auctions to receive a weekly update of what we have listed for the week.  (This comes directly from eBay and usually goes out on a Tuesday). Questions or comments?... we are always happy to hear from you. Please drop us a line anytime! Place a Bid!