Cartoon for the embroidery of an orphrey bearing Medici arms combined with Arms of the House of Austria 1600 - 1620

This anonymous design, dated 1600-1620, is a cartoon for an orphrey, a decorative band sewn onto a liturgical vestment. The design is a repeating motif of intricate floral patterns and heraldic emblems, likely intended to be embroidered in silk and gold thread. It features the Medici arms combined with the Austrian Habsburg arms, a union that would have been significant to the patron of this piece. The cartoon provides a detailed blueprint for the final embroidery, guiding the needlework through its complex design. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant design, giving insight into the artistic and symbolic practices of the early 17th century.