Fragment
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 7 1/2 x W. 1 1/2 inches 19.1 x 3.8 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Flemish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Miss Julia Chester Wells, 1910
Accession Number
10.146.17
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fragment* of bobbin lace, crafted by an unknown Flemish artist in the 18th century offers a glimpse into the pinnacle of European textile artistry. Measuring just 7½ by 1½ inches (19.1 x 3.8 cm), this piece exemplifies the precision and patience required in bobbin lace-making, a technique where threads wound on small bobbins are twisted and braided around pins set in a pattern on a pillow. Flemish lacemakers, centered in regions like Brussels and Mechlin, were renowned for their intricate designs, often featuring floral motifs or geometric patterns that adorned elite fashion—th...