DALMATICS and DIACONAL STOLES
I was invited to design and create four dalmatics for the first Permanent Deacon in New Zealand. Deacon Mike Ryan was ordained by Bishop Edward Gaines for the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.
The traditional dalmatic is a T-shaped garment, open down the sides. Embellishment was usually heavy brocade panels forming an H shape on the front.
Considerations we made were:
the traditional pattern;
contemporary adaptations;
the ecclesiology of the Order of Permanent Deacons;
the character of the wearer;
the micro-climates where the Dalmatic would be worn; and
the fabric.
Deacon Mike was a sheep farmer. To honour this, and the changeable climate within the diocese, we chose a light-weight wool cloth. The colours were deep and vivid, and the drape was exquisite.
We took the traditional graphic and gave it a contemporary twist. Three strands of a gold mesh braid were sewn onto the dalmatic to hint at the traditional H design. A fish was incorporated into three of the motifs.
The stole was plain, except for a gold chain used to loosely hold the stole together.
The garments were handsewn.
The traditional dalmatic is a T-shaped garment, open down the sides. Embellishment was usually heavy brocade panels forming an H shape on the front.
Considerations we made were:
the traditional pattern;
contemporary adaptations;
the ecclesiology of the Order of Permanent Deacons;
the character of the wearer;
the micro-climates where the Dalmatic would be worn; and
the fabric.
Deacon Mike was a sheep farmer. To honour this, and the changeable climate within the diocese, we chose a light-weight wool cloth. The colours were deep and vivid, and the drape was exquisite.
We took the traditional graphic and gave it a contemporary twist. Three strands of a gold mesh braid were sewn onto the dalmatic to hint at the traditional H design. A fish was incorporated into three of the motifs.
The stole was plain, except for a gold chain used to loosely hold the stole together.
The garments were handsewn.