Mat
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Machine made lace
Dimensions
D. 10 inches 25.4 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Nuttall Collection, Gift of Mrs. Magdalena Nuttall, 1908
Accession Number
08.180.103
Art Historical Context
This exquisite circular lace mat, measuring 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter, exemplifies 19th-century British craftsmanship the realm of decorative textiles. Produced by an unknown artist using machine-made lace techniques, it hails from a period when industrialization transformed everyday luxuries. Machine-made lace, pioneered in Britain during the Industrial Revolution, allowed for intricate patterns once achievable only by skilled hand-weavers, making elegant home accents more accessible to middle-class households. Originating from Nottingham or similar lace-making hubs, this mat reflects ...