The Bircham cope, red velvet with gold, green, yellow and white stitching, in centre the Virgin is borne up by angels and flanked by seraphim, other decorative devices include foliage, fleurs-de-lis, rayed suns and double-headed birds,motifs embroidered on linen and applied to a red silk velvet cope, circa 1480, from Great Bircham, Norfolk; made into an altar cloth at a later date.
Virgin in radiance wearing ermine trimmed surcoat surrounded by 3 demi angels with 3 sets of wings, cross diadem, ermine tippet, knotted sash at waist, both hands raised, on wheels as referred to in the Bible, Ezekiel chapter1; text on scrolls above angels 'sanctus' 'da gloriam deo '; 2 spread eagles; dove resting on crown, fleur de lys and scrolls; orphreys from original cope cut down the middle and used to form two borders for altar frontal, half figures of saints and cardinals match in most instances; stitches laid and couched, long and short, chain, satin, stem; some silk thread, some gold thread.
