17th-century Baroque silk brocade altar cloth with silver-thread lace — 50 × 48 cm A rare liturgical textile from the second half of the 17th century, originally used as an altar cushion or small altar cloth. The piece is made of fine silk brocade featuring stylised floral and scrolling Baroque motifs. The edges are decorated with hand-made lace crafted from real silver-wrapped threads — a characteristic material of Italian and Central European ecclesiastical workshops of the period. The textile has survived in its original shape. Signs of age include small tears, fraying, discoloration of the silk, and natural oxidation of the silver threads. These are typical for authentic 17th-century liturgical fabrics and do not detract from its historical value. Such complete early Baroque altar textiles are scarce on the market and highly sought after by collectors and museums. Dimensions: 50 × 48 cm Materials: silk brocade, hand-made silver-thread lace Period: c. 1650–1700 Condition: fair, with wear consistent with age Provenance: private collection Estimated value: €600–1200 A beautiful and rare devotional textile, suitable for collectors of ecclesiastical art, Baroque textiles, or museum-quality artefacts.