Tabernacle veil

Usage of a special veil on all but the most monumental tabernacle structures was determined by a Roman ritual dating from 1614. The fabric to be used in the tabernacle veil was not specified, nor was its colour, except that it should not be black, while the decoration was to be associated with the Eucharist. This tabernacle veil is made of white silk with gold and polychrome embroidery. The four-part item has a central gold-embroidered design of a radiating sun monstrance resting on the red silk and gold galloon embroidered Holy Scriptures, with hanging tassles upon which lies the divine lamb, also embroidered in gold. Flanking the central composition are two kneeling angels, facing each other. A symbolic plant motif of grape and wheat ears fills the bottom and sides of the central composition, which is trimmed in gold. The simpler decoration of the side cloths, in which small winged angel heads (seraphim) also appear, is centred on a radiating circular gold-embroidered composition that contains the IHS trigram signifying Christ. Embroidered bunches of grapes decorate the upper part of the piece.