Lace patterns
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Parchment
Dimensions
3 1/2 × 16 1/8 in. (8.9 × 41 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. J.B. Johnston, 1910
Accession Number
10.91.58
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, you'll find this charming example of *Lace Patterns*, a delicate parchment work from 18th–19th Britain. Created by an unknown artist, this narrow strip measures just 3½ × 16⅛ inches (8.9 × 41 cm), revealing the precise designs used by skilled lacemakers. Donated in 1910 by Mrs. J.B. Johnston, exemplifies the intricate planning behind Britain's renowned lace industry. Parchment served as an ideal medium for these patterns, known as "prickings," where tiny holes were punched along the outlines to guide pins...