Lappet (one of a pair)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Bobbin lace, point d'Angleterre
Dimensions
L. 22 3/4 x W. 3 5/8 inches (57.8 x 9.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Flemish, Brussels
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Mabel Metcalf Fahnestock Collection, the gift of Ruth Fahnestock Schermerhorn and Faith Fahnestock, 1933
Accession Number
33.90.98
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Lappet*, one of a pair from 18th-century Brussels, exemplifies the pinnacle of Flemish lace-making artistry. Measuring 22¾ x 3⅝ inches, it served as an elegant ornamental band, likely worn draped over the shoulders or head in formal attire, adorning the elite during Europe's Age of Elegance. Produced in the lace-making capital of Brussels, such pieces were prized status symbols, blending opulence with intricate detail. Crafted in bobbin lace using the *point d'Angleterre*—a bobbin-made variant mimicking the finer needlepoint laces of England—this lappet showcases the lacemaker...