Diplomacy in silk

Made from fine silk yarns, metal threads and thin strips of leather, the fabric was used for a chasuble, the outer garment of a Catholic priest. The calligraphic characters on it are in Arabic, however, and can be read as ‘the knowing ruler’. They point to a distant origin, both in terms of place and culture. Whether this material reached Gdańsk via long-distance trading or as a diplomatic gift is unknown. But it is fascinating to realise that comparable robes with so-called strap gold and banners from Persia or Central Asia can be found in several European church inventories of the 14th century.