Displaying items by tag: dossal

Monday, 15 September 2014 13:26

Dossal

A dossal is a decorative cloth displayed on the back of some Christian altars. The word dossal (dossel) derives from the medieval Latin dossale/dorsale (from dorsum, ‘back’). In traditional Catholic and Anglican churches, the altar is covered with various textiles including the frontal and laudian, which cover the front of the altar. The back of the altar is covered with the altar dossal or simply the dossal.