Border
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Drawnwork
Dimensions
L. 11 X W. 3 1/2 inches 27.9 x 8.9 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Danish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Nuttall Collection, Gift of Mrs. Magdalena Nuttall, 1908
Accession Number
08.180.898
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this delicate "Border" exemplifies 19th-century Danish textile artistry. Created by an unknown artist using drawnwork—a meticulous lace technique where threads are selectively withdrawn from woven fabric and the remaining ones are knotted or looped into intricate patterns—this piece measures a modest 11 by 3½ inches (27.9 x 8.9 cm). Likely intended as a decorative edging for garments, linens, or furnishings, it showcases the precision and patience required in handmade lace production. Drawnwork, popular across...