April 29, 2011

The Pope's Pileolus

Pileolus (soli deo, zucchetto) worn by the pope,
seen in the shop window of the pope's tailor Ditta Annibale Gammarelli, Rome


The pope's pileolus is made of white silk with moiré-effect,
inside lined with very thin chamois leather to assure a better hold and, around the brim inside, a ribbon of white velvet.

Pileolus of John Paul II

Pileolus of John Paul II

© Reuters/Tony Gentile  (Vatican)
Msgr. Dr. Georg Gänswein, the private secretary of pope Benedict XVI, changes the pope's pileolus with this one of a pilgrim on September 20, 2006

(click to enlarge)
Noonan, James-Charles: The Church Visible, Publisher: Viking Adult (May 1, 1996)
ISBN: 978-0670867455, pp. 307-308
Get a copy of this wonderful book!

Have a look at this article, too:


© picture: Papalartifacts
Pileolus (zucchetto) worn by H. H.Pope Benedict XVI.

Pileolus of pope Pius IX
made by Manifattura Romana in the 19th century
Coat of arms of the pope on the top of the octagonal box

Pileolus of Pius XII
Inside a card of authenticity dated 24th of March 1957 of the Anticamera Pontificia
signed by Cardinal Mario Nasalli Rocca.

April 17, 2011

The Levitating Biretta


'Levitation' 2006
Biretta levitating above a pedestal, nitrogen, superconductor, magnets
30 x 30 x 170 cm
shown during the exhibition:
'we love to entertain you'
of SILBERMANN - history and legend of an organ builder family

organized by:
Amt für Archiv, Galerie und Museen, Dr. Michael Hütt, Rietgasse 2, 78050 Villingen-Schwenningen

Franziskanermuseum Villingen-Schwenningen
13th May until 6th August 2006

Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe
25th August until 12th November 2006

Archives de la Ville et de la Communauté Urbaine Straßburg
26th January until 30th March 2007

April 14, 2011

The Barett of the Kirchenschweizer I


The task of a "Kirchenschweizer" (usher, verger, staff-bearer?) is, during the liturgy and in the church building, to ensure order and silence. During the service the "Kirchenschweizer" with his festive attire (usually a red robe, a long black staff with a round carving at the top and a red hat with a black ribbon and a black pompon on the top), helps everyone to find a seat, escort the entry and the recession and organizes the dignified reception of Holy Communion.

"Vergers arrive early and assist with setting up the Cathedral. The Verger can be found moving furniture to its proper place, making sure the books for the Clergy and Readers are ready to go, working with the Altar Guild to ensure enough bread and wine are supplied, making sure all the Acolyte positions are filled as well as anything else that needs to be done before the service to make sure the liturgy runs smoothly."

"Today's vergers are laypersons who serve the church in a ministry of welcome. Often the visitor will see the verger in a simple cassock moving about the church preparing for worship. The verger is able to respond to any inquiry concerning the upcoming service, church facilities or current program offerings." © The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church


© picture: Erika Sieberts
Kirchenschweizer Walter Rieber

© picture: Bühl
This robe was worn by Mr Hubert Klinkhammer, the last Kirchenschweizer at the Herz Jesu church, Euskirchen, Germany. He passed away in 1976.

© picture: Delia Evers
3. Norder coast pilgrimage to Kevelaer, Germany, 24th until 26th of September 2010
Kirchenschweizer Edmund Pitz-Paal

© picture: kingfisher_68

 Exhibition of vestments at the occasion of a ceremonial week held from 1st until 9th of  September 2007



Barett worn by the Kirchenschweizer of the Basilika St. Johann, Saarbruecken, Germany

Barett of a Kirchenschweizer

© picture: Russell Bevan 
Semana Santa Procession in Cuenca, Spain

Head Verger Brooks Mason verging the procession at the Seating of Bishop Mathes
This gentleman does not wear a barett.

© picture: The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Mr William Hooper Gleasonwearing a Tudor bonnet

2 Kirchenschweizer with red barett
"Les deux bedeaux : Employés laïcs d’église, ils s'assurent du bon déroulement des cérémonies religieuses. Celui de gauche (11) est un vigneron aisé tandis que celui de droite (12) est un cordonnier modeste. La couleur rouge de leur costume et de leur toque les fait sortir tout droit d'une toile italienne du bas Moyen Âge, cependant on a retrouvé dans la sacristie de l'église d'Ornans une de ces toques." Wikipedia


Part II you will find here.

April 12, 2011

Képi and Helmet Worn by Priests during the War

French chaplain's helmet (casque d'aumonier militaire)
(1915-1922)

USA chaplain's cap (képi hat type), circa 1870

April 10, 2011

La Canoa, Chapéu de Raia or the Boat Hat

The boat hat were used by the clergy in Portugal, Spain and in the American dominions (Brasil, Argentina, Mexico, etc.) during XIX. century.
In Portuguese language: Barco (= boat, bateau) or Chapéu de Raia (for the hat reminds of a ray) 
In Spanish language: El Barco (= the boat hat). 


Léon Gustav Dehon's departure to America


Don Fermín de Pas

Don José Torras y Bages

Fr. Emiliano Neri, a Carthusian monk

Pius IX and his Nobile Anticamera Segreta
The composition of this famous photograph is at the same time extremely formal, and picturesque. All the members of his Court are wearing choir dress and mantelletta, except cardinal Antonell, who wears the new-fashioned abito Piano.
Amongst those that can be identified, from left Mons. De Mérode, Cameriere Segreto Partecipante, kneeling; Mons. Borromeo, Maggiordomo; Mons. Talbot, Cameriere Segreto Partecipante; Mons. Hohenloe-Schillingfurst, Elemosiniere Segreto, later cardinal; Mons. Negrotto; Card. Antonelli, Secretary of State; Mons. Pacca; Mons. Martinelli, Sacrista di S.S., later cardinal. Note the huge Roman hats. The on the right (on the bench) is a tricorne.

Portuguese friars (circa 1840)
Franciscan and Benedictine friars wore giant boat hats,
Dominicans a black tricorne

 Spanish friar (Peru) with "La Canoa"

Thank you Mr Nunes (Virtual Memories) for your valuable help.


Paintings of Leonce Angrand

April 09, 2011

Academic Biretta, Toque, Mortarboard, Tudor Bonnet

University of St Mary of the Lake
Mundelein, Illinois, USA
Group picture of 4 different academic headgear
Mortarboard - Tudor bonnet  - Biretta with 3 wings (horns, blades) and toque

The toque, worn by the director of the Liturgical Institute, Fr. Douglas Martis,
was a professor's hat form the University of Paris (Sorbonne IV),
Professeur de Lettres, Philosophie ou Sciences sociales
- Couleur: Jonquille
- Matière: Ottoman 
- Bandeau: Velours Noir
- 1 Galon Or Large
made by Maison Bosc, Paris

Academic birettas made by Ditta Annibale Gammarelli, Rome

(click to enlarge)
Get a copy of this wonderful book:
Goff, Philip: University of London - Academic Dress
The University London Press, London 1999
ISBN 0-7187-1608-6


as well

Camouflage Biretta

Indeed a strange biretta!

 The camouflage biretta with 4 blades (wings, horns) and a black pompon

© picture: Domus Birettarum, 5th of June 2011

April 07, 2011

The Cappello Romano (Saturno) with Embroideries


H.H. Pope Benedict XVI with his summer saturno, made of straw with embroideries of golden threads and boullion on red silk fabric, decorated around the crown of the hat.
On both sides of the saturno there are fixed 2 golden cords decorated with small balls and acorns.
If you would like to know more about this precious material the handmade embroideries are made of, visit the site of Ets. Carlhian, Lyon, France.



© Picture Orbis Catholicus
Saturno made of red felt worn by H.H. Pope Pius XII,
made by the workshops of Barbiconi, Roma

Workshop of the Barbiconi Company in the 1950's

Barbiconi, Rome
H.H. Pope John Paul II wearing a saturno made of felt



© picture: Orbis Catholicus

H.H. Pope John XIII with a saturno made of white straw with hand made embroideries


Angelo Giuseppe Cardinal Roncalli (later Pope John XXIII) wearing a saturno made of red beaver hair with hand made embroideries


H.H. Paul VI with a simple white summer saturno

Pope Leo XII, 1898
The prelate on the left hand side holds his saturno.

© pictures: ICRSP, Gricigliano, Italy, 29th of January 2011
Saturno of H.E. Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

© Picture Orbis Catholicus, 3rd of September 2009
Samuel Alphonsius Cardinal Stritch wearing a saturno


© Picture: Te igitur, clementissime Pater, 4th of April 2011
Saturnos of Michael Cardinal von Faulhaber


H.E. Silvio Angelo Pio Cardinal Oddi wearing a saturno
made of red beaver hair (1992)

Saturno of H.E. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Cardinal Ottaviani’s gentiluomo, 1956, holding the cardinal’s hat.

Clemens August Cardinal Graf von Galen

2 cardinals at the court of the emperor Napoleon
The right one holds in his left hand a saturno, maybe a tricorne hat

Saturno of an archbishop made of beaver hair
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