Lace Flounce
1720–40
Medium
Linen, bobbin part-lace of a type known as "Brussels" with a plaited bar ground
Dimensions
65.4 × 327.5 cm (25 3/4 × 128 7/8 in.); Width repeat: W.: 49.5 cm (19 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19406
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Wide edgings or flounces made of lace ornamented secular clothing, religious dress, and furniture. This length of lace might have adorned a wealthy woman’s skirt hem or dressing table. Such a large piece of lace would have been the work of many women, with each creating a part of the whole that was then skillfully and invisibly assembled.
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...