Lace Bobbin
19th century
Medium
Turned wood with rose and crystal bead ornament
Dimensions
8.6 × 7 cm (3 3/8 × 11 in.)
Classification
bobbins
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
50409
Art Historical Context
This delicate 19th-century lacebin, crafted from turned wood and adorned with rose and crystal, exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of everyday tools in Victorian-era textile arts. Measuring just 8.6 × 7 cm, its petite scale belies its pivotal role in bobbin lacemaking—a technique where weighted bobbins hold threads twisted into intricate patterns on a pillow. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department, this unsigned piece highlights how functional objects could become works of art through skilled lathe-turning, which shapes the wood into smooth, ergonomic forms ideal for hours of...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...