Antependia and heritage


Antependium en cuir de cordoue Immaculée Conception de Zubaran
Silver & Gold Double cabochon Border, Silver & Gold Marot Panels. An antependium at the effigy of the « Immaculate Conception » painted by Zurbaran

From the Council of Trent to the 18th Century

From the 17th century untill the end of the 18th century, gilt leather antependia were used throughout Europe. With the edict of Nantes signed in 1598 came the end of the religious wars in France.
By that time, many Churches were in a dire state and in great need of care.
The Council of Trent, from 1545 to 1563, gave clear directions of how art had to play a role to elevate and glorify God and the Catholic traditions.
In these times gilt-leather was an highly prized wall-covering ornating many palaces and dwellings of Kings and merchants, thus it naturally found its way and place in the re-construction effort of the Churches.

Antependium made by Lutson
Antependium made by Lutson – Double Damask – Église de l’Invention-de-Saint-Étienne de Germ

At Lutson, we have been creating gilt-leather since 1989 for world-class designers, institutions, and museums. While we primarily serve the secular world, we occasionally work for the Church in the Lourdes area, where our workshop is based.

Lutson leathers are crafted from bovine hides or robust cellulose paper. They are embossed, layered with silver or gold leaf, hand-painted, and antiqued to order. Each panel requires at least ten meticulous steps to complete.
In addition, we can propose a Saint-Patron design based on historic masterpieces.

Our workshop is open to the public.



Antependia without gilt leather
Altar of Vic’s church without antepandia
Antependia with gilt leather
Altar of Vic’s church with antepandia

Antependium St Jean Baptiste by Velasquez
Rose & Tulip borders, Silver & Gold Moncla panel. An antependium at the effigy of « St John the Baptist » painted by Velasquez

Still to this day, about a hundred authentic antependia are conserved in churches and chapels in France.

Antependium embossed in gilt leather from the Netherland
Antependium in embossed leather originally from the Netherland, first half of the 18th century
Les-Authieux-Sur-Calonne, Calvados church
Antependium made by Lutson Goudleder
At Vic Fezensac’s church
A four faced Altar, here the side showing two Gilded Abondance panels. The background is painted red.



Reliquary

Reliquary made by Lutson Goudleder
A « rural reliquarie » made by a local craftman who used some of our leathers
Blue reliquary made by Lutson

The Art of Upholstery: Chairs in Lutson Gilt Leather


Gilt leather on a chair for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
courtesy ISGM
Korfus on a chair for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Dining room chairs with cordovan leather
A set of diningroom chairs upholstered with Verentuil
Hallwylska dining room chairs with leather
courtesy Hallwylska Museum
Hallwylska Diningroom chairs leather replicas by Lutson
Vanderbilt side chair upholstered with Lutson leather at the Metropolitan Museum NY
courtesy MET – NY
Vanderbilt side chair upholstered with Lutson leather at the Metropolitan Museum NY