Lace Borders
Mid-18th century
Medium
Linen, bobbin straight lace of a type known as "Valenciennes" with a Five-Hole mesh ground
Dimensions
a: 8.4 × 179.8 cm (3 1/4 × 70 3/4 in.); b: 8.3 × 98.4 cm (3 1/4 × 38 3/4 in.); Repeat: W.: 18.6 cm (14 3/4 in.); Heading: H.: 3 cm (1/8 in.)
Classification
lace - bobbin
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
107853
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The lace decorations that ornamented women’s dresses were separate from the dresses themselves. They required many yards of lace and, since fine lace was expensive, people sought substitutes that mimicked the light, translucent nature of the fabric. Here, the sleeve ruffles are made of a woven linen that has been skillfully embroidered to look like lace.
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...