Manuscript album of designs for lace and embroidery
ca. 1596
Medium
Woodcut, ms
Dimensions
Overall: 7 7/8 x 5 1/2 in. (20 x 14 cm)
Classification
Books|Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mary M. Greenwood, in memory of Eliza Rudd Greenwood, 1953
Accession Number
53.566.7(1-69)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite manuscript album, created around 1596 by an anonymous German artist, offers a rare glimpse into the world of 16th-century decorative arts. Measuring just 7 7/8 by 5 1/2 inches, the compact volume combines woodcut prints with handwritten elements to present intricate designs for lace and embroidery. As a pattern book, it served practical purposes for artisans and needleworkers, capturing the era’s fascination with ornamental motifs drawn from nature and mythology. The designs prominently feature birds, peacocks, griffins, and lizards, blending realistic and fantastical imagery t...