Orphrey

Quick meaning: Orphrey is a noun meaning (Christianity) An embroidered ornamental band or border on an ecclesiastical vestment, altar frontal, etc.

Meaning

(Christianity) An embroidered ornamental band or border on an ecclesiastical vestment, altar frontal, etc.

More Meanings

1. (obsolete) Any elaborate embroidery, especially when made of gold thread; an object (such as clothing or fabric) adorned with such embroidery.

Example Sentences

Item, another Chaſuble of blue Tiſſue Velvet, with Flowers and Branches of Gold, and in the Orphrey a Picture of the Paſſion of Chriſt, and of either ſide of him an Angel with Chalices in their Hands, two Tunicles and three Albes.

Another Alderman, Master Thomas Robertson provided vestments of green velvet and white damask with an orphray (a rich embroidered border) of red velvet, another of white satin of Bruges powdered with flowers and an orphray of black velvet and green Bruges satin.

In some cases these panel-decorations [of vestments] are similar both in style and material to the border or "orfrey." [...] Orfrey signifies a gold fringe, or gold border. At the present time the accepted technical term for the border of the vestment is the "orfrey;" and this is used whether the border be of gold or coloured silks.

He possessed a gorgeous cope of crimson silk and gold-thread damask, [...] The orphreys were divided into panels representing scenes from the life of the Virgin, and the coronation of the Virgin was figured in coloured silks upon the hood. [...] The orphreys were woven in a diaper of red and gold silk, and were starred with medallions of many saints and martyrs, among whom was St. Sebastian.

Word Forms

• orphreys
• orphray

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include orfrey, broidery, broidering, exornation, opifice, garnishry.

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