Edging
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Linen, bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 42 x W. 2 inches (106.7 x 5.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Flemish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robert James Lewis, 1983
Accession Number
1983.370.2
Art Historical Context
This delicate linen bobbin lace edging, by an unknown Flemish artist in the 18 century, exemplifies the exquisite textile artistry of Flanders, a historic epicenter of European lace production. Measuring 42 inches long and just 2 inches wide, this narrow strip was likely designed as a decorative trim for garments, linens, or furnishings, adding elegance to everyday luxury items during the Rococo era's fondness for ornate details. Bobbin lace, the medium here, is a labor-intensive technique where threads wound on handheld bobbins are intricately twisted, plaited, and pinned into patterns on a ...