Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The patterns of the symbols of passion, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The patterns of symbols of the Eucharist, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The patterns of stag, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The patterns of symbols of the Rose, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The patterns of the lamb, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The Gold patterns, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
These patterns of the cross, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The Angel II patterns, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Art and Needlework Department, 1883-1968, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Date Created:
1883 - 1968
Description:
The patterns of the fish, most of which are perforated, were stamped for embroidery onto liturgical vestments and accouterments. Many of the patterns are original designs of members of the Art Needlework Department of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Expansion of Monastery (1880-1909). This sample pattern for needlework done by Sister Felicitas Knapp was one of the designs of roses, the motif used for an entire set of vestment known as the "rose vestments." Note the number-coding written on the pattern as a guide for the color of threads to be used. Sister Felicitas was an accomplished artist and well known for her 30 years of extra-curricular service of making and caring for the costumes used for plays given at the academy/college. Her realistic embroidery and rare gift for color combination was recognized by Harper Magazine, a publishing firm of New York City. She entered an embroidery contest sponsored by the Harper's Bazaar in 1910. There were 3,000 entries and she received the fourth prize. In 1900, she was appointed assistant to the directress of the needlework (vestment) department of St. Benedict's Convent. Her own sister, Sister Justina Knapp, was the directress and held that position for 45 years. The sisters had engaged in this art from their early beginning in Minnesota. Mother Willibalda Scherbauer, who as a young girl had received scholarships to attend the Royal Institute in Altötting, Bavaria, for eight years, brought this art to the New World. She taught the young members of the community to do fine embroidery and offered the first class in art needlework in their school in St. Cloud. When the sisters moved from St. Cloud to St. Joseph, Mother Willibalda appointed Sister Irmina Kretzer as the directress of the community's embroidery department. In 1895 Sister Justina Knapp was appointed the directress. It was Sister Justina's efforts and skill that provided energy and direction to the community's contribution to the art of needlework and the making of vestments. The department began in a small attic room in the first convent/school complex in St. Joseph, but in every new building or addition to the convent/academy, space was made available for this work. The department gradually evolved into the vestment department to which an entire floor of a new convent building (St. Walburg's) was dedicated. Many sets of hand-embroidered vestments, often embellished with gold thread, were purchased by parishes around the country. (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives).