Insertion
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 6 x W. 2 inches (15.2 x 5.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Italian, Venice
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1920
Accession Number
20.186.85
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate "Insertion," a exquisite example of 16th-centurybin lace from Venice,, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's European Sculpture andative Arts collection. Measuring just 6 by 2 inches (15.2 x 5.1 cm), this slender strip was crafted for insertion between fabric edges—think elegant collars, cuffs, or altar linens—transforming everyday garments into displays of refined luxury. Bobbin lace, a pinnacle of Renaissance textile artistry, involved skilled lacemakers twisting and intertwining fine threads using small bobbins, creating intricate geometric patterns without needle...