Bed curtain border
Unknown Artist
1800–1850
Medium
Linen, silk
Dimensions
72 x 23 1/2 in. (182.9 x 59.7 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Russian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Greenman Stillman, 1931
Accession Number
2009.300.6339
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bed curtain border, crafted by an unknown Russian artist between 1800 and 1850, exemplifies the refined artistry of 19th-century Russian lacework. Made from delicate linen and silk threads, this textile measures an impressive 72 by 23½ inches, designed as an elegant edging to adorn luxurious bed hangings in affluent homes. Its classification as a lace places it within the rich tradition of European decorative arts, where such pieces transformed everyday furnishings into statements of sophistication and status. In the context of early 19th-century Russia, borders like this one r...