Lappet
Unknown Artist
early 18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace
Dimensions
L. 23 1/4 x W. 3 3/4 inches (59.1 x 9.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. E. H. Simmons, 1935
Accession Number
35.39.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Lappet*, crafted in early 18th-century France, exemplifies the pinnacle of bobbin lace artistry from a golden age of European decorative arts. Measuring 23¼ x 3¾ inches, this delicate textile strip—likely intended as a decorative flap for garments like clerical robes or fashionable women's attire—showcases the intricate patterns achieved through bobbin lace techniques. Produced anonymously by skilled artisans, it reflects the era's demand for opulent lace in French courts and high society, where such pieces symbolized wealth and refinement. Bobbin lace, a labor-intensive metho...