Cloth of gold with pomegranate motif, silk with gold, gold-red

Product description

A historically inspired fabric woven from genuine silk and metallic gold threads, developed based on a documented Renaissance original from the 16th century and created with deep respect for traditional weaving techniques.

Drawing on historical sources this red pattern on a golden field reflects the character and craftsmanship of the period textile while offering exceptional quality and authenticity for demanding costume projects, living history events, historically styled interiors, as well as distinctive modern interiors and contemporary fashion.

Historical source

This striking floral design is based on an Italian silk brocade from the mid-16th century. The original textile dates to the High Renaissance and survives as part of a fully preserved chasuble kept in the Cathedral of Brandenburg, Germany.

It was a luxurious fabric woven with a yellow silk ground interlaced with fine gold threads, while the pattern itself was formed with red silk. The gold thread was made of gilded silver — characteristic of the finest brocades of the period, reserved for the most prominent and representative members of society.

Historical period and cultural context

The mid-16th century marks the High Renaissance, a time when Italy — particularly Venice, Florence, and Lucca — stood at the center of European silk production.

Italian workshops built upon late medieval textile traditions, yet compositions became more regular, monumental, and symmetrical.

Large-scale repeats, strong axial symmetry, and stylized vegetal motifs inspired by both nature and Eastern influences brought through trade routes are typical features of the period.

Luxury silk brocades were symbols of power, education, refinement, and cultural prestige.

The symbolism of the pomegranate motif

The dominant feature of the design is the large, stylized pomegranate set within richly scrolling branches, leaves, and smaller fruits. The pomegranate was among the most widespread ornamental motifs of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The pomegranate symbolized:

• Fertility and abundance
• Life and rebirth
• Unity in multiplicity (through its many seeds within one fruit)
• In Christian iconography, Christ’s Passion and Resurrection

For this reason, the motif appeared both on secular garments of the elite and on ecclesiastical vestments. The preserved chasuble suggests that the original fabric served a liturgical and ceremonial function, where symbolic meaning was of central importance.

Who Was This Fabric Intended For in the 16th Century?

Such a richly woven silk brocade with metal thread was not an everyday textile. It was intended for:

• High-ranking clergy
• Nobility and wealthy urban elites
• Courtly environments
• Ceremonial and representative occasions

These fabrics expressed social rank and prestige. In secular dress, they were most commonly used for formal gowns, doublets, cloaks, and ceremonial robes.

Suggested Uses

Reproductions of period brocades such as this are perfect for sewing historical costumes and also bring something special to modern interiors or contemporary fashions.

Living History and Reenactment

Enthusiasts of 16th-century living history and reenactment may confidently use this fabric for:

• Noble and affluent burgher impressions from Italian, German, or Central European Renaissance contexts
• Ceremonial garments
• Representative outer layers
• Liturgical reconstructions

Thanks to its large-scale repeat, the fabric is especially suitable for garments with generous surface areas — such as Renaissance gowns with full skirts, men’s cloaks, doublets, or richly structured bodices.

Film and Theatre

For costume designers, the bold scale of the pattern reads clearly even at a distance and conveys authenticity without the need for additional embellishment.

It performs exceptionally well in historical films and series set in the 16th century, particularly in courtly or ecclesiastical settings.

Why Choose Historical Fabrics from Sartor Bohemia

Our historical designs are developed with careful attention to the original sources, material integrity, and period-appropriate aesthetics. We focus on high-quality materials that perform not only visually, but also in construction and wear.

Our clients therefore know precisely what they are purchasing — and can create with confidence that the finished garment will meet both their expectations and historical standards.

Please note that this design is the intellectual property of SARTOR BOHEMIA.

About the Fabric, Sewing and Care

This historical silk brocade is woven from natural silk and genuine metal threads. The metal thread gives the fabric its distinctive luminosity and structural depth, far beyond that of ordinary jacquards.

Due to its metallic content, the fabric has a certain firmness and body. This should be considered during pattern planning. It is particularly suitable for structured, ceremonial garments with generous surfaces that allow the full repeat of the pattern to unfold.

Our combination of premium materials makes this cloth of gold sturdy but soft, gentle to the touch, and breathable.

What is Cloth of gold

In the Middle Ages and the early modern period, richly patterned textiles with a very high content of metal threads — often made from gilt silver — were referred to as “cloth of gold”.

These fabrics were symbols of status and authority. They were used for courtly garments, ecclesiastical vestments, and ceremonial textiles. The brilliance of gold represented power, dignity, and divine light.

Such a fabric was never everyday wear — it was a statement of rank, prestige, and cultural refinement.

Fair Production

This cloth of gold is also unique for its artisan origin. It is woven in a small family-run workshop on a traditional semi-mechanical loom specifically adapted for Sartor needs.

We are skipping all the intermediaries and going all the way down to the village level. Thanks to our direct cooperation, we can assure that everything we pay goes directly and only to artisan's families – from warpers and weavers to dyers.

Sewing advice

General recommendation for working with our Cloth of Gold:

• Carefully plan the pattern placement before cutting, especially for symmetrical front panels.
• Use very sharp fine needles suitable for silk.
• Choose high-quality, fine polyester or silk thread for sewing.

Care instructions

• Because of the metal threads, machine washing is not recommended.
• Professional dry cleaning is advised.
• If you risk hand washing, use lukewarm water and a delicate detergent for woolens; do not wring or squeeze dry; block dry on a flat surface.
• Dry iron at low temperature from the reverse side, ideally with a pressing cloth.