Hanging
Unknown Artist
early 16th century
Medium
Embroidered net, punto à tela, punto à rammendo
Dimensions
L. 89 x W. 25 inches 226.1 x 63.5 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.583
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Italian hanging, created in the early 16th century, showcases the refined artistry of Renaissance lace-making. Measuring over seven feet in length, the piece was crafted from embroidered net using delicate techniques known as punto à tela and punto à rammendo—methods that involve weaving and darning threads into fine mesh to form intricate patterns. Such hangings served both decorative and symbolic purposes, often adorning the homes of wealthy patrons or ecclesiastical spaces during a period when Italy led Europe in textile innovation. The unknown artist’s mastery is evident in...