Hanging

Unknown Artist

early 16th century

Hanging by Unknown Artist

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...

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