Fragment
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Needle lace, gros point lace
Dimensions
L. 25 1/2 x W. 3 1/2 inches (64.8 x 8.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Mabel Metcalf Fahnestock Collection, the gift of Ruth Fahnestock Schermerhorn and Faith Fahnestock, 1933
Accession Number
33.90.36
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fragment* of Italian needle lace from the 17th century the pinnacle of Baroque-era textile artistry. Crafted in gros point lace—a bold, geometric needle lace technique originating in Italy—this long, narrow strip (25½ x 3½ inches) likely served as ornamental border for elite garments, altar linens, or ecclesiastical vestments. During the 1600s, Venice and other Italian lace-making centers like Milan were renowned across Europe for their intricate punto in aria (needle lace) traditions, where threads were meticulously stitched in mid-air without a supporting fabric, creating del...