Bible Encyclopedias
Orphrey

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Aurum Phrygmatum, gold or Phrygia), the name of an ornamental border of a cope or alb, because it is an imitation of the famous Phrygian embroidery. England was famous for this work, and M. Paris relates that the pope, struck with its beauty, directed the Cistercian abbots to buy up all the specimens they could, saying, "England is our garden of pleasure and delight; its treasure is inexhaustible: where much is then, thence much maybe taken." His order was obeyed, and his choir was vested in copes thus ornamented. In some English inventories the rich apparels (apparatus) of the alb for the neck and hands are called spatularia and manicularia.

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Orphrey'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​o/orphrey.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.