Shawl

Art Historical Context

This elegant shawl, crafted in Brussels around 1860, exemplifies the of 19th-century Belgian lace. Measuring an impressive 114 by 56¼ inches (289.6 x 142.9 cm), it belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, gifted by Mrs. R. T. Auchmuty in 1917. Classified as a textile-lace with an "applied" technique—likely referring to appliqué lace, where intricate motifs are meticulously sewn onto a fine net ground—the shawl features delicate floral designs that capture the Victorian era's love for nature-inspired ornamentation. Brussels was a global center f...