Insertion
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 7 x W. 1 1/4 inches (17.8 x 3.2 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
20.186.95
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of Renaissance luxury with *Insertion*, a delicate strip of bobbin lace crafted in 16th-century Venice,. Measuring just 7 by 1¼ inches (17.8 x 3.2 cm), this exquisite piece was designed as an "insertion"—a narrow band meant to be seamlessly worked into garments like collars, cuffs, or linens, adding a touch of opulent texture to everyday elite attire. Bobbin lace, pioneered in Europe during this era, involved skilled artisans twisting and intertwining fine silk or linen threads around handheld bobbins to create geometric patterns and floral motifs. Venice emerged...