Lappet

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Lappet*, a narrow strip of bobbin lace from 18th-century France, measures 22 by 4 inches and showcases the pinnacle of European textile craftsmanship. Produced during the lavish Rococo period, when lace was a symbol of wealth and refinement, this piece likely served as a decorative border for clerical garments, women's neckwear, or headdresses—known as "lappets" for their dangling, elegant form. Its floral motifs, delicately rendered, evoke the era's fascination with nature's abundance, rendered in fine white threads that highlight the French mastery of ornamental luxury. Bobb...