This is one of the designs produced by the Hubert Gotzes weaving factory for ecclesiastical textiles established in Krefeld in 1905. Here at the factory ecclesiastical vestments, that is to say priests’ robes and other textiles for use in the church, were produced from precious silk cloth. The model for this pattern is to be found on Byzantine silk dating from the 11th century. A golden yellow cope from the Brauweiler monastery, the so-called St. Bernhard cope is decorated with this pattern. According to the legend, St. Bernard of Clairvaux wore this cope when he preached in the Brauweiler monastery in 1147 where he urged the believers to join the second crusade. The motif was, however, also familiar in the 11th century because it can be found on the cover of a manuscript dating from this period. A pair of eagles facing one another is to be seen in the circular areas arranged in rows on both sides of the tree of life. Stylised climbing plants surround the circular motifs. There are small circular disks where they meet. Round rosettes provide the motif in the corners. This product is made of pure filament silk. The design is based exclusively on traditional, historic patterns. A few years ago this pattern was still being manually woven on these premises on wooden Jacquard hand-looms which were up to two hundred years old. Please do not wash it by hand but have it professionally cleaned. Through your purchase you are not just acquiring a stylish pure silk item. You are also helping to preserve our gem for future generations. We wish you a great deal of pleasure with your scarf or tie.