auðþræðr

auðþræðr is the Icelandic term for gold thread, a decorative material consisting of a thread of gold or a thread with a gold-colored coating used in textiles, embroidery, and bookbinding. The word combines auð, “gold,” and þræðr, “thread.” The concept appears in many cultures, where gold thread is employed to convey luxury, ritual significance, and durability in works of art.

In historical Icelandic and Nordic contexts, auðþræðr was used in ecclesiastical vestments, liturgical textiles, and manuscript illumination, often in combination with other precious materials. Surviving bindings, banners, and hangings from medieval churches show traces of gold thread, illustrating trade connections and the value placed on gilded decoration. Gold thread could be made by wrapping gold foil around a textile core or by using gold-coated or metallic fibers.

In contemporary usage, auðþræðr remains a term in textile conservation, museum labeling, and craft practice. It denotes both the material itself and the technique of incorporating gold thread into fabric and book arts.

See also: gilding, goldwork, embroidery, textile art, bookbinding, manuscript illumination.