Ornament

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 19th-century ornament crafted in Brussels, Belgium, exemplifies the pinnacle of lace-making artistry. Measuring just 4⅛ x 2 inches (10.5 x 5.1 cm), this piece of needle lace—specifically Point de Gaze— adorned a garment, accessory, or decorative object, showcasing the era's obsession with intricate finery. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, it was generously gifted by Lady Alan Johnstone in 1920. Point de Gaze, developed in Brussels during the late 1800s, is a virtuoso needlepoint lace technique where threads are meticulously stitch...