Insertion
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 6 x W. 7/8 inches 15.2 x 2.2 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
20.186.249
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of Renaissance Venice with *Insertion*, a masterful example of 16th-centurybin lace. Crafted by an unknown artist, this slender strip measures just 6 x 7/8 inches (15.2 x 2.2 cm), designed as an "insertion"—a narrow band meant to be seamlessly sewn between fabric edges in collars, cuffs, or altar cloths. Its delicate scale belies the extraordinary skill required, showcasing Venice's dominance as Europe's lace-making capital during the Renaissance. Bobbin lace, or *punto a fusello*, was produced by deftly twisting and crossing threads held on handheld bobbins over...