Antique Vietnamese Catholic Virgin Mary Banner Authentic Ecclesiastical Cloth

This vintage Vietnamese Catholic banner features a central figure of the Virgin Mary with a Sacred Heart and both hands outstretched. The head, hands, shoes and the heart are hand-carved wood. The thumb of the right hand is missing. The banner is velvet, intricately embroidered with a variety of floral designs of silk threads in a range of colors. Although not in perfect condition it is in an excellent state of wear considering its age. The embroidery on the back of the banner features the year 1961 which dates this to that year. The words translate to “Central Hoi, Phu Hoa Lake in Thinh Long”. Most people associate Catholicism in Viet Nam with the French colonial period, which is very much the case. However, Jesuits from all over Europe brought Catholicism to Asia 500 years before that. The Catholic tradition in Viet Nam and all the other Catholic populations of Asia is well established. The Catholic population of Vietnam is only about 8% of the total but that is about 7 million people. During certain periods of their history Catholics have been some of the most influential people in the country. One of the largest concentrations of Catholics in Viet Nam is in the province of Nam Dinh, a short distance south of Hanoi, on the coast. Although we are unable to trace the origin of this exceptional chasuble there is a high probability that it comes from this area. We have a full range of Vietnamese Catholic ecclesiastical material: full saint figures in all sizes, crucifixes, tabernacles, shrine enclosures, a wide range of other ecclesiastical textiles. We also have Vietnamese Buddhist objects as well. Please ask us for more information. The banner measures 53″ long, including the fringe x 27 1/2″ wide (135 x 70 cm); the Mary figure is 14 1/4″ tall (36 cm)