Made in Italy took center stage at the coronation of King Charles III. The fabric of the inscription at the base of the tree featured on the anointing screen – Anointing Screen – used at the most sacred moment of the coronation, the anointing of the king, was made from the precious linen yarns of the Italian spinning mill Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale of Villa d’Almè (Bergamo).
Emerald and brilliant linen yarns, among Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale’s classic products, were chosen by John Spencer (Textile) Ltd. to make the fabric of the inscription featured on the screen. At the same time, the sustainability of the yarns meets the ecological demands of the new king.
The Anointing Screen is the element that conceals from the eyes of the world the most sacred moment of the ceremony, the anointing, when the Dean of Westminster pours holy oil from the cruet to the spoon with which the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the hands, chest and head of the sovereign, an instant historically considered the moment when God and king are joined.
The Anointing Screen, donated to Charles III by London’s ancient and modern trade guilds, has three sides: on the central one it features a tree with 56 leaves, one for each member of the commonwealth, with the king’s numeral placed at the base, while the design of the two smaller ones is inspired by the floor of Westminster Abbey. Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale is the ancient spinning mill in Villa d’Almè (Bg), which has been producing the widest range of high-quality sustainable linen and hemp yarns since 1873, prized by weavers around the world. “For years the Linificio has been actively committed to changing the current economic model to one that is more equitable and sustainable, both environmentally and socially,” reads a statement.
