Monday, October 12, 2009

Treasury of Frankfurt Cathedral


I recently had the opportunity to visit the treasury of Frankfurt Cathedral. (Incidentally, St. Bartholomew is not technically a cathedral, since it was never the seat of a bishop, but of a collegiate chapter, but is accorded the designation of Imperial Cathedral - Kaiserdom - due to its important role as the site of the election, and since 1562 of the coronation, of the Roman Emperor.) Here are some of the vestments and other items of interest.

A green chasuble from ca. 1350 with 22 angels carrying the coat of arms of provost of Nideggen; the cross with the adoration of the Magi was added later (ca. 1430).



The "Schlosser" set. The set was donated between 1450 and 1460 by the Cologne merchant and Jerusalem pilgrim (cf. coat of arms on the breast of the dalmatic) Merten Moench and his wife Drutgen van der Groeven to the Fraternity of Our Lady of the Cathedral of s'Hertogenbosch (cf. the names Merten and Drutgen on the bottom of the chasuble). After the secularisation it was restored by Frankfurt Senator and Catholic convert Fritz Schlosser and donated to St. Bartholomew's in 1844. It was worn in 1921 by Cardinal Pacelli, and in 1974 by Cardinal Woityla.



Chasuble from Mainz, ca. 1731.



An entirely embroidered pall:


A late baroque high Mass set:



Another late baroque chasuble:



Two gothic revival high Mass sets:



And to conclude, the baroque reliquary for the Cathedral's most precious relic, the skullcap of St. Bartholomew the Apostle:

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