A very fine and important South Netherlandish gold and silver thread Burgundian embroidered chasuble cross with scenes from the youth of Christ, Brabant late Gothic, circa 1520

the reverse depicting: the Nativity, flanked by the prophets Bileam, holding a scroll inscribed Orietur stella ex Jacob, and Jesaja, holding a scroll inscribed Ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium, the Visitation, the Annunciation, the front depicting: Circumcision, Adoration of the Magi, and fragmentary Presentation at the Temple, on later red velvet fabric

Sakralkunst aus Brabant. Das niederländische Museum van Gerwen-Lemmens (Valkenswaard) präsentiert seine Sammlung in Deutschland, Städtisches Kramer-Museum, Kempen 1982, cat. no. 38, pp. 60-63.

Compare with the chasuble of abbot Lieven Hugenois from the Saint Bavo-Cathedral at Gent, see: E. Dhanens, Inventaris van het kunstpatrimonius van Oost-Vlanderen, part 5, Sint Baafskathedraal Gent, Gent 1965, cat. no. 669, p. 262, ill. 260.
Joseph Braun, Die liturgische Gewandung, Freiburg, 1907, pp. 149-239.
Mary Gostelow, A world of embroidery, London 1975, pp. 405-406.
Greet van Duin e.a., Borduren in Nederland, Utrecht 2007, pp. 95-98.

In overall good condition with some minor wear to the fabric and fading to the colours consistent with age. Some of the gold threads threads slightly loose or torn, minor losses. Few minor restorations, hardly visible due to elaborate detail. The panel with the Annunciation to the reverse of the chasuble and the Presentation at the Temple to the front cut and therfore fragmentary. An important and attractive piece.
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The chasuble is the most common liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist, primarily in the Roman Catholic Church. Already the Fourth Council of Toledo in 633 mentiones the chasuble. It originated as a sort of conical poncho, called in Latin casula (or little house), which was the typical outer traveling garment in the late Roman Empire. The early shape of these vestments was conical, being gathered up at the arms, and with the material free falling down to below the knees. It was in the 16th century that the chasuble began to be cut down in size throughout the Latin Church. The introduction of velvet and silk brocades and the increasing heaviness of the embroidery rendered the old and very full shapes now no longer tolerable. 
Traditionally the chasuble is applied with a vertical border, often a Latin cross, to the front and reverse, since the Middle Ages often embroidered in precious materials like gold and silver thread, silk, small pearls or precious stones, preferably with scenes of the lifes of Christ and Mary.
The Burgundian or lazuursteek embroidery-technique is a highly sophisticated and elaborate technique where the details are executed in a sort of double thread, thus allowing a much greater refinement of detail and strengthing of the plasticity of the embroidery while also intesifying the play of light on the gold and silver threads. Especially in Burgundy, famous for its texile industry, there were workshops capable to execute this special technique.