Insertion
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 10 1/2 x W. 1 inches (26.7 x 2.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Scottish, Hamilton
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Miss Margaret Taylor Johnstone, 1906
Accession Number
06.539
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of 18th Scottish lace-making with *Insertion*, a slender strip of bobbin lace crafted by an unknown artist from, Scotland. Measuring just 10½ by 1 inches (26.7 x 2.5 cm), this delicate piece exemplifies the precision and patience required in bobbin lace technique. Threads are wound onto small bobbins and meticulously twisted, braided, and pinned over a patterned pillow, creating a durable yet exquisitely fine textile ideal for insertions—narrow bands sewn between fabric edges to embellish garments, linens, or furnishings. In the 1700s, lace like this was a covete...