Name/TitleHubert's slippers, Canterbury Cathedral

About this objectThese slippers, 28 cm long (about a modern 9), were among items of clothing—vestments—in which Hubert Walter (d. 1205), Archbishop of Canterbury, was buried. They were still intact when the tomb was opened in 1890 to identify its occupant.
The slippers have silk uppers, embroidered with metallic thread and decorated with garnets. The soles are made of amber silk. Their embroidered design includes two lion-type animals and two dragons. Some parts have decayed but the silk is mostly intact. The silk and garnets must both have been sourced from outside England, the garnets possibly from as far away at south Asia. It has been suggested that the silk was a gift from Salah ad-Din (d.1193) when Hubert was in Jerusalem negotating a peace treaty with him on King Richard's (r.1189–1199) Third Crusade.

Date Made12th century

Subject and Association KeywordsSilk

Subject and Association KeywordsLiving in Belief

Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: Breay and Harrison 2015; Browne et al 2016; TRC Leiden 2017.

Medium and MaterialsSilk, gold, garnet

TechniqueWoven

TechniqueEmbroidered

MeasurementsTBC

Credit LineCanterbury Cathedral

Object numberEXH68: Hubert's slippers