Historical Needlework Resources:
The Göss Benedictine nunnery was founded in 1010 by Aribo II and his wife Adala. Their daughter, Kunigunde became Abbess of the nunnery The nunnery came to exert major cultural and economic influence throughout the surrounding region. The noble nuns were literate, had an extensive library and great manual skills. One of the most famous examples of their work is the Romanesque Gösser Vestments from the 13th Century, which are now one of the prime exhibits at the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Arts) in Vienna.
The abbess of Göss, Kunigunde (abbess between 1239-1269), donated these so-called Göss Vestments in 1260. She, along with the other nuns, had made the garments herself. Vestments represent an ensemble of stylistically matching liturgical garments, for the priest, deacon and sub-deacon, supplemented by a festive altar cloth. The Göss vestments consist of embroidered linen and are in uniquely good condition as they were rarely used, except for the mass held to mark the anniversary of the death of the nunnery's founder Adala.
Dating and attribution of the vestments is possible by a number of inscriptions in the vestments. Unusually, the inscription is in Middle High German rather than Latin.
