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Manufacturer
anonymous
Period and date
16de eeuwMASTERPIECE
An antependium is the covering that hangs on the front of a Christian altar. This meaning is literally incorporated into the word: the Latin ‘ante’ means ‘before’, and ‘pendere’ means ‘to hang’. An antependium can be made from various materials, for example precious metal, wood or, as in this case, textile. They are often richly decorated, with jewels, or intricate embroidery with figurative representations or decorative patterns.
