Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Fragment* of bobbin lace, crafted in the 19th by an unknown French artist, exemplifies the pinnacle of European textile artistry. Measuring a slender 16 x 4 inches (40.6 x 10.2 cm), this narrow strip showcases the intricate *Point de Paris* technique—a style originating in 17th-century Paris and prized for its precise geometric patterns and floral motifs. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European and Decorative Arts collection it highlights lace's role as both functional adornment and high art. Bobbin lace, made by twisting and intertwining threads held on handheld b...