Mat

Unknown Artist

19th century

Mat by Unknown Artist

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 ...

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