The Croatian History Museum is part of the former National Museum opened in 1846 (in which were: the Croatian History Museum, the Archeological Museum and the Natural Museum) During the time museums were separated and CHM was founded in 1952. It is housed in the most beautiful baroque (Orsic-Rauch) palace of the city. It has fourteen Collections (Stone monuments, Paintings, Prints, Sculptures, Religious Artefacts, Flags and Streamers, Heraldry, Weapons, Potographs, Maps ..)-

Ecclesiastical textiles are in the Collection of Religious Artefacts which holds various objects made from metal, wood and textiles, and some from glass, wax, ceramics, leather and alabaster, date from the period of 9th to the 20th century. It is very interesting but not easy to be a curator in such a kind of Collection with so different sort of materials.

The textiles from the church Collection include all the textiles and leather objects made over five century between the 14th and the middle of the 19th century in domestic and foreign workshops. They were brought from various localities (the most from the continental part, and a smaller number came from the coastal region of Croatia).

The oldest and rarest objects is the "Avignon standard" of cut red velvet with a cross that was probably embroidered in the 15th century with traces of elements made in the Gothic tradition.

Then we have a chasuble that has a foundation of stitched velvet from Italian workshops in the middle of the 16th century while the embroidered crosses probably date of the second half of the 15th century. Also interesting are chalice covers from the 17th century, chasubles with large embroidered floral motifs probably made in domestic workshops.

The collection also holds 15 pairs of gloves and 6 pairs of slippers, some church flags, painted silks and painted, gild and stamped leather objects.

Through preventive protection measures and conservation and restoration procedures that have been untertaken on the most of the objects since 1992, their general state has been considerably improved. Only the museological approach was taken into account, and the work done on individual items have enabled us to register some completely different layers that clearly document style, the chronological and technical stages of manufacture, repairs or change of the original purpose and appearance of the item.

"Avignon standard", catalogue number 66

Question about "Avignon standard"

S. Pavicic would like to know about similar materials and motifs as shows the "Avignon standard" :

It is cut red Z-direction 6/2 twill velvet with a cross. S. Pavicic supposes that the velvet is older (14th, 15th c) than the cross (which war probably embroidered in the 15th century with traces of elements made in the Gothic tradition).

In the museum's inventory books it is described as "Avignon’s flag". It is so-called according to the family tradition from which the item was acquired. During the exploration of this object Snjezana Pavicic did not find any connection with Avignon, and that is the reason why she asked colleagues in museums of Avignon for more information. But they sent only general opinions but nothing important on this problem.

If you have any suggestion about this textile object (what in fact it is: flag, decoration, or something else?..) or you know of similar examples, please let Snjezana Pavicic know. She will be grateful for any suggestion.