Edging
Unknown Artist
late 18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 37 x W. 3 1/4 inches 94.0 x 8.3 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Flemish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry Livingston Lee, through his daughter Mrs. F.S. Crofts, 1931
Accession Number
31.31.3
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bobbin lace edging, crafted by an unknown Flemish artist in the late 18th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of European textile artistry. Measuring 37 inches long and just 3¼ inches wide, this delicate strip was designed as a decorative border for garments, linens, or furnishings. Bobbin lace, a technique where fine threads are twisted and interwoven using small bobbins pinned to a pillow, allowed for intricate patterns that showcased the lacemaker's precision and patience—skills honed in Flanders, a historic center of lace production. Flemish lace flourished from the 16th to 1...