Portion of a valance
Unknown Artist
early 19th century
Medium
Machine net
Dimensions
L. 51 x W. 19 inches 129.5 x 48.3 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Italian, Sicily
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dr. Lucia E. and John L. Heaton, in memory of Eliza Putnam Heaton, 1919
Accession Number
19.148.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite portion of a valanceails from early 19th-century Sicily Italy, a region renowned for its rich textile traditions. Crafted as a decorative hanging—likely for the top edge of a bed canopy or window treatment—this narrow strip (51 x 19 inches) exemplifies the ornate lacework that graced European interiors during the period. Adorned with motifs of and flowers, it reflects the era's love for naturalistic designs, blending whimsy and elegance in domestic spaces. The standout feature is its medium: machine net, an innovative material produced via early mechanized looms. This marked a ...