Edging
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk, bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 30 1/2 x W. 1/2 inches (77.5 x 1.3 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Hungarian-Slovak
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.48.97
Art Historical Context
This delicate silk bobbin lace edging, crafted in the 19th by an unknown Hungarian-Slovak artist, exemplifies the exquisite handmade textiles of Central Europe. Measuring a slender 30½ x ½ inches (77.5 x 1.3 cm), it was designed as a trim for garments or linens, showcasing the precision of bobbin lace technique. In this method, fine silk threads are wound onto handheld bobbins and meticulously twisted and plaited over a patterned pillow, creating intricate, openwork designs that highlight the artisan's skill and patience. Originating from the Hungarian-Slovak border regions, such laces were o...