Border
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Needle lace
Dimensions
L. 44 x W. 5 1/2 inches (111.8 x 14.0 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Margaret Taylor Johnstone, 1947
Accession Number
47.97.3
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Border* from 17th-century Italy showcases the pinnacle of needle lace, a medium where intricate patterns are created stitch by stitch using a single thread and needle, without a supporting fabric. Measuring a generous 44 inches long by ½ inches wide, this delicate strip exemplifies the technical virtuosity of Italian lacemakers, likely from renowned centers like Venice or Milan, where punto in aria ("point in air") techniques flourished during the Baroque era. In the opulent courts of the 1600s, such laces adorned the edges of collars, cuffs, altar cloths, and furnishings, sym...