Antependium or Pallium Altaris

In the tranquility of a humble chapel or in the greatest cathedrals where one is overwhelmed by the proportions and majesty of the architecture. Where one feels elevated by the dazeling light of the century old stained glass windows, once mass starts, all are focused to what is happening arround the Altar.

The Altar is a representation of the Jesus Christ therefor great attention is given to the Alter in the liturgy of the Church of Rome ; Over the years we have been asked at several occasions to provide giltleather alterpieces called Antependium or Palluim Altaris. Since the 17th century alterpieces of giltleather were quite frequent certainly in the southern part of Europe .

In the earlie 18th century there was gilt leather workshop specialised in Antependia near the town of Ex-en-Provence, form the catalogue one could order a giltleather Antependium of various designs with or without a central medaillon representing the Church protector or theVirgin Maria or one of the Apostels.

My knowledge on the theoreical side of the subject is limited therefor I did some research on the subject and found (and copied) from http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2013/01/the-history-development-and-symbolism.html

An interesting reference to the doctrinal significance of clothing the altar is given by Amalarius [of Metz] (d. 859). "The Altar signifies Christ, as Bede narrates. The robes (vestimenta) of the Altar are the Saints of Christ."

The purpose of a frontal is threefold. 1) a frontal helps to make the altar stand out from its surroundings. It has always been the mind of the Church that, in a mystical sense, the altar is Christ, and that, like the priest who celebrates Mass, it should be clothed in precious vestments on account of its dignity... the frontal is one of the most ancient of all the furniture of the altar. 2) It is a covering of honour for the body of the altar which, as we have already seen from the liturgical books, represents Christ Himself; and if further proof is necessary, it is provided by the five crosses incised upon the upper surface of the altar, representing the five wounds in Our Lord's Body on the cross.

3)The frontal is a means of employing colour to bring out the full meaning of the very beautiful symbolism in that same office of ordination of subdeacons which speaks of "the faithful with whom the Lord is clothed as with costly garments." The red frontal, for instance, reveals the victory of the Rex Martyrum, realized afresh in yet another of His members...

Our Lord, as represented by His consecrated altar, puts on robes of majesty to identify Himself with those in whom His victory has borne fruit; His own purity reproduced again in the white robe of the virgin saint; His own heroic fortitude in the red robe of the martyr: and thereby additional emphasis is given to His invitation to be approach through the intercession of the saint with whose colour the altar is robed.

The frontal -- the altar's clothing -- has a deep, symbolical value. As the early linen clothing of the altar recalled our Lord's burial shroud, so the precious coloured fabric of the later frontal is to recall his royalty. The clothed altar with its beauty and changing colours is a symbol of the Mystical Body -- the whole Christ, Christ united with all his saints -- it translates this doctrine into the language of colour and form.

Some pictures of Antependia made by Lutson

These are pictures from the Antependium we've made for the Chrurch of Mingot France , Hautes Pyenées. restauration by Regina Purkat

This is the Antependium of the church of Germ, France Hautes Pyrenées. We were involved in some other Antependia, I'll promise to travel and take some decent pictures.

As Always,
Frederic