Medieval Alphabet Silk Tie

DESIGNER'S NOTES

An exceptional Fox & Chave silk tie with a festive spirit and a design composed of letters derived from illuminated manuscripts typical of those from the European Christian tradition.

Illuminated manuscripts were primarily religious texts, such as Bibles, Psalters, and prayer books, but they also included secular works, like histories and poetry. Primarily produced from the late Roman Empire, around the 5th century, through the Middle Ages, and reaching their peak during the High Middle Ages in the 12th to 14th centuries. The production continued into the Renaissance in the 16th century, after which the invention of the printing press began to reduce their prevalence.

Initially produced by Monks, and later taken up by Royal Courts and professional scribes, the materials used—vellum or parchment, gold leaf, natural pigments, and ink—were costly, making manuscripts valuable and often reserved for the wealthy or the Church. The illustrations and decorations served not only as art but also as visual aids for conveying religious and cultural narratives to an often illiterate population.

Surviving manuscripts are significant for their artistic, historical, and cultural value, providing insights into the medieval period’s aesthetics, literacy, and social structures. 

COLOURS

STYLING

A Fox & Chave silk tie looks best tied in a classic Windsor or half-Windsor knot and worn with a collar style of your choosing. Cutaway or spread collars offer the greatest opportunity to display the detail of your unique silk tie design.