baldachin. - Lexis Project

aldachin.
Searchable Lemmata: baldekin (AF), baldekinus (L), baudekin (ME), boytkin (Corn), baudkin (OScots),
baudekin (MdE), baldachin (MdE).
Alternate Forms: baldeskin, baudequin, baudquin, bandekyn, baudekyn, blawdekyn, baldekinum, bauldekin,
badkin, baldaquin, bawdekyn, bawdakyn, baudekina, balkeno, baldequino, baldachinum, baldekinos,
baudequinis, baldekyns, baldeskyns.
Literary Evidence:
1a. (n.) Textile; rich, silken textile. Typically used to refer to a textile of mixed silk and gold or silver thread
(often made with gilded membrane filé thread) which could be embroidered or brocaded.
As mentioned in the attestations below, baudekin/baldachin was manufactured in or associated with Lucca,
Italy, during the fourteenth century. Popular etymology suggests that the name for the textile originates from
the city of Baghdad (medieval Italian Baldacco). Variants appear in most medieval European languages.
John of Newbury's Great Wardrobe account for 1360-1 details a wedding dress for Edward III's daughter
Mary, consisting of 'a mantle and a tunic of cloth of gold "racamatiz" of Lucca and of cloth of gold "baldekyn
d'outremer"' (Newton, S. M., 1980, p.61). The Great Wardrobe accounts for 1363-4 mention a gown for
Philippa (wife of Edward III), made from blue and gold 'baldekyn' of Lucca, totalling four whole cloths (24
ells) and with a lining of trimmed minver and finished with some 30 skins of ermine (cf. the attestation from
a slightly later account below E101/395/2); in fact there are a number of references to 'baldekyn' garments in
the Edward III's wardrobe accounts for the 1360s (Newton, S. M., 1980, pp. 55 & 61-63). Lisa Monnas
notes that from 1376 in English statutes, 'baldekyns' were identifiable with lampas silks with a twill ground,
but appear in the Great Wardrobe accounts of 1425-27 as a cloth of gold with a satin ground, demonstrating
how textile terms could be applied to various materials at different times and in different texts [Monnas, L.
(1989), p. 286]. (ante 1245 - post 1840)
1. abas W. [ob. 1245] ... optulit duos pannos sericos baldekinos rubeos ... unde ... subsacrista fecit
duas capas [DMLBS SWAFHAM (117) ante 1245] Historic.
2. capa ... de balkeno rotato purpura [DMLBS Arch. (L 480) 1245] (also, DMLBS Invent. S.
Paul.)
3. 2 panni de baudekyn [AND Durham (199) circa 1200/1400] Accounts.
4. a Satyn: Thome Serland' ; p[ro] una pec[ia] satyn radiat' adaur' p[re]c[ium] lxx. s. p[er] iiij(or)
pec' 7 trib[us] uln' satyn p[re]c' pec' cvj. s. viij. d. 7 uln' xiij. s. iiij. d. empt[o] ab eo London p[er]
vic[es] infra temp[us] hui[us] comp[ut]i ---------- xxvj li[vres] xvj. s.
a pann[us] adaur' baldekyn':
de Luk': p[re]fato Simon' Bochell ; p[ro] xviij. pann[i] adaur' de luk' baldek[yn]' p[re]c' pann'
cx. s. et p[ro] xij. pann[i] j. uln' pann' adaur' de luk' baldek[yn]' p[re]c' pann' cvj. s. viij. d. 7 uln'
xxj. s. iiij. d. empt[o] ab eo London' p[er] vic[es] infra temp[us] hui[us] comp[ut]i ut s[upr]a -----
----- c lxv. li[vres]
Doutrem': Eidem ; p[ro] quinq[ue] pann[i] adaur' doutrem' baldek[yn]' p[re]c' pann' cvj. s. viij.
d. empt[o] ab eo London p[er] temp[us] p[re]d[i]c[tu]m ut sup[r]a ~ ---------- xxvj. li[vres]

a Racamatz Arg': p[re]fato Simon' Bochell ; p[ro] quatuor pann[i] argent' racamatz p[re]c' pann'
vj. li[vres] empt[o] ab eo London p[er] temp[us] hui[us] comp[ut]i ut s[upr]a ----- xxiiij. li[vres]
[LexP NA [PRO] E 101/394/9 (m. 6a) 1362/1363] Accounts.
Transcribed by Mark Chambers, 03/07/2011
5. [E101/395/2/23] ... robes d’une suite embroidés de jarters. ... [E101/395/2/28] ... facez liverer
quatre draps de baldekyns de Luke (=from Lucca) ... deux pieces de drap de soy contenantz sys
draps baldeskyns double ... deux draps de soy d’Outremer baldekyns pur lour ent faire paltoks
[AND PRO E101/395/2 (/23-28) circa 1370] Accounts. subsidiary wardrobe accounts from
Edward III's reign (38-45 Ed. III)
6. unam jupam longam de viridi baldequino [DMLBS SelPlAdm. (I 15) 1392] Legal. from Select
Pleas in the Court of Admiralty
7. vous ay envoié ij baldekyns, l’un bloy et l’altre roge [AND Lett & Pet (371.9) 1390/1412] [cf.
sense 1b]
8. Noman shulde were no cloþe þat was woru3t oute of Engelond, as ... damaske, vellewet, saton,
baudekyn. [MED Brut-1377 ((Corp-C 174) 293/7) ante 1425]
9. [24] ... Barrynge of harneys: Stipacio, constipacio ... [25] ... Barkyn lethyr: Frunio, tanno, tannio
... Barmclothe, or naprun: Limas ... [27] ... Batyldoure [Win: Batyldere] or wasshynge betylle:
Feretorium ... Bawdekyn clothe or sylke: Olosericus ... Bawderyke: Strophius. ... Bedclothe, or a
rayment for a bed: Lectisternium ... [MED PParv. ((Hrl 221) 24-27) circa 1440] Gloss.
10. [149] ... A rede chesyble with a patyble stool and fanol of the same sute ... [150] ... A cope of
grene bawdakyn with Red Orffrai. [MED Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15 (149-150) 1455] Accounts.
11. Hayl, arluth bold,/ del os sauns per!/ Clothys of gold / ha velvet ker / eu the aray, / damask,
boytkyn / inweth cendal, / bys ha satynn,/ ye, porpor pal/ ha pannow gay. [LexP BewnKe (Thomas
& Williams) (1720-1729) 1450/1500] Arthurian, Biblical/Hagiographic, Poetic.
c.f.: holosericus
AF, L, ME, MdE, OScots; Toponym.
Sex: N/A / Use: n/a / Status: / Rank: / Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
References: Monnas, L. (1989); Newton, S.M. (1980)a
1b. (n.) Furnishing; drape or furnishing of this fabric; canopy. From the seventeenth century, baldachin was
regularly associated with the canopy of rich fabric, frequently hung, held or draped over the royal, noble or
episcopal throne, bed or reliquary (hence its modern meaning of a ceremonial canopy). (ante 1250 ? still in
current use)
1. [71] ... quinque baudekinos cum auro et septem pannos de aresta ... [71a] ... assignavi ... domui
Loci Dei ... magnam capellam suam, sc. unam cassibulam de rubro samito et unam capam chori de

ubro samito ... j tuniculam, j dalmaticam ... j albam ... , j amictum j stolam, j fanonem cum twallis
et omnes reliquias suas [DMLBS Cl (71-71a) circa 1225] Accounts, Legal. Close Rolls of Henry
III
2. A riche cheier was vndon ... A baudekin þer on was spred. [MED Horn Child ((Auch) 331)
circa 1330] Heroic, Poetic. (a drape)
3. Per empcionem de ij baudkenys [marg. bawdkenys] serici [DOST Exch. R. (II. 465) 1374]
Accounts, Legal. records of the Exchequer, Scotland.
4. les Fipportes porterount une baudekyn de drape d’ore sour quater bastounes amount luy devers
mesme l’abbaye [AND Anon Chr (109.2) 1382/1399] (canopy carried above Richard II at his
coronation)
5. Wiþ samytes and baudekyns Weren curtyned [vr. cortined] þe gardyns. [MED KAlex. ((LdMisc
622) 1025-1026) circa 1400] Heroic, Poetic, Romance.
6. [1514] ... Oure bischop ... Braidis ouire with bawdkyns all þe brade stretis ... þar he trede sulde ...
[1519] ... Mas on hi3t ouire his hede for hete of þe sone, Sylours [Dub: Silours] of sendale [MED
Wars Alex. ((Ashm 44) 1514-1519) circa 1450] Heroic, Historic, Poetic, Romance.
7. fit unum baldachinum pro papa album ... latitudinis unius et altitudinis duarum cannarum,
habens pendalia de carmusino [DMLBS Conc. (III 638b) 1494] Ecclesiastic/Regula. (canopy)
c.f.:
AF, L, ME, MdE, OScots.
Sex: N/A / Use: n/a / Status: / Rank: / Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
References:
2. (adj.) ; (in apposition) of baldachin, of rich material.
1. [E101/395/2/23] ... robes d’une suite embroidés de jarters. ... [E101/395/2/28] ... facez liverer
quatre draps de baldekyns de Luke (=from Lucca) ... deux pieces de drap de soy contenantz sys
draps baldeskyns double ... deux draps de soy d’Outremer baldekyns pur lour ent faire paltoks
[AND PRO E101/395/2 (/23-28) circa 1370] Accounts. subsidiary wardrobe accounts from
Edward III's reign (38-45 Ed. III)
2. [E101/395/2/51] ... un lit, c’est assavoir, un coverlit, un peire de lincheux, un blanket et un
canevace ... [E101/395/2/54] ... facez liverer trois draps d’or baldekyns de Luc [AND PRO
E101/395/2 (/51-54) circa 1370] Accounts. subsidiary wardrobe accounts from Edward III's reign
(38-45 Ed. III)
3. [p. 229] ... (PROME item 630) vii copes de velvet cremosy, sengle et nient garnisez, pris le pece
.xlvi. s. .viij. d.; xvi.li .vi. s. .viij. d. ...
(645) i cope de chamelet rouge d’or, les orfreys de velvet bloy, pris .xlvi. s. .viij. d. ...

(662) Chesible de velvet vert playn, ovec III aubes, les orfreis enbroudés ovec signes. Item, II autr'
clothes, I frountell de tarterin vert, II curteynes raiés de tarterin, ovec I stole, II phanons ...
(668) Item, i chesible de damask bloy, les orfreis de velvet rouge et noier enbroudes, ovec .i. aube, et
.i. amyte, pris .xxxvi. s. .viij. d. ...
(675) Item, .viij. cropers de velvet d'or rouge, frengez et usez, et chescun croper de .vi. hangers, pris
.iiij.li. ...
[p. 230] ... i lite de soy baudekyn, blanc vert & glauc pale ...
[p. 231] ... III carpettz de lether ... ii pair’ de draps champayn fyn ... Item, i esparver palez de
tarterin vert, blanc & vermaille [LexP PROME (Hen. VI: Parl. of Oct. 1423, items 630+) 1423]
Legal.
c.f.:
AF.
Sex: N/A / Use: n/a / Status: / Rank: / Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
References:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, Old French baudaquin and medieval Latin baldakinus. Popular etymology suggests that the word
derives from Baldacco, Italian for Baghdad (Arabic Baghdadi). Modern forms (baldachin, baldaquin)
probably come directly from Spanish (baldaquin), Italian (baldacchino) and/or medieval Latin usage, while
earlier forms derive through Old French/Anglo-Norman.
WF:
Etym Cog: baudaquin (OF), baldaquin (Sp), baldacchino (It).
References:
Archaeological Evidence:
[London, p. 119; King and King 1988]
References:
Art and Illustration:
References: