If you look at this embroidered panel in isolation it is very likely that you would assume that it depicts the blue gowned Virgin Mary riding on a donkey along with her husband Joseph. But this panel is on the Bourne Casket where the rest of the panels depict the story of Abraham, Isaac and Rebecca. Go to the Bourne Casket page and decide what you think. Was this a hidden message to fellow Catholics at a troublesome time?

The Embroidered Caskets page is now live. This contains our recommendations for places to go to see caskets; whether they are usually on public display – often viewing is restricted to preserve the colours – photos of the embroidery (usually we have had to obtain permission to take photographs, purely for our non-commercial use) and information about the provenance and designs. This is a work in progress so please keep returning and click on the casket photos to go to individual pages on each casket. To start with we have included the Bourne casket at the Museum of Lancashire, the Fenton House casket, and the Bond Family casket at the Dorset County Museum.