Sleeve Ruffle (Engageante) and Lappets (Joined)
1740s
Medium
Linen, needle lace
Dimensions
12.9 × 204.3 cm (5 1/8 × 80 1/2 in.)
Classification
costume accessory
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31379
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 18th-century fashion with this *Sleeve Ruffle (ageante) and Lets (Joined)*, in the 1740s from fine linen needle lace. Measuring a slender 12.9 × 204.3 cm, this delicate accessory was designed for elite women's attire, with engageantes as detachable ruffles adorning sleeve cuffs and lappets as flowing flaps often pinned to headdresses. During the Rococo era, pieces transformed everyday garments into displays of elegance and refinement, evoking the lavish courts of Europe. The true marvel lies in the needle lace technique, a painstaking process where artisans indi...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...