Fragment
Unknown Artist
early 18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 4 1/2 x 1 3/4 in. (11.4 x 4.4 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Flemish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Nuttall Collection, Gift of Mrs. Magdalena Nuttall, 1908
Accession Number
08.180.221
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Fragment* of bobbin lace, crafted by an unknown Flemish artist in the early th century, offers a glimpse into the opulent world of Baroque-era decorative arts. Measuring just 4½ x 1¾ inches, this tiny textile treasure hails from Flanders, a region renowned as the epicenter of lace production in Europe. During this period, Flemish lace was a symbol of wealth and refinement, adorning the cuffs, collars, and trims of elite clothing, as well as ecclesiastical vestments and furnishings. Bobbin lace, the medium here, exemplifies masterful technique: threads wound on small bobbins are...