Border
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 64 1/2 x W. 3 1/8 inches 163.8 x 7.9 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Mabel Metcalf Fahnestock Collection, the gift of Ruth Fahnestock Schermerhorn and Faith Fahnestock, 1933
Accession Number
33.90.181
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Border* exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship of 18th-century Dutch bob lace, a pinnacle of European textile artistry. Stretching an impressive 64½ inches long and just 3⅛ inches wide, this narrow strip was likely designed as an edging for garments, linens, or furnishings, showcasing the era's obsession with ornate embellishment. Produced in the Netherlands, a historic center for lace production, it reflects the technical virtuosity required to weave fine linen threads into enduring patterns. Bobbin lace, distinct from needle lace, involves dozens of bobbins dangling from thr...