Cloth with Unicorns, Dragons, Other Animals, and Floral Patterns
Unknown Artist
1800s
Medium
Bleached linen: needle lace, filet/lacis (knotted ground and darned in two directions) and alternating cutwork, embroidered squares, and bobbin lace edging
Dimensions
113.5 × 138 cm · mounted: 121.9 × 146.1 cm
Classification
Lace
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Frances McIntosh Sherwin Collection
Accession Number
1936.95
About this artwork
Scattered throughout this textile are depictions of both real and imaginary animals: unicorns and dragons exist alongside lions, stags, and an assortment of birds. There are also identifiable plants, flowers, and fruits as well as simply decorative or fictional ones. The maker, whose initials CM appear between the unicorns, perhaps chose to mix fantastical motifs with natural ones to create a more captivating spectacle. This large textile was perhaps meant for use as a table cover.