Specimen
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Crochet
Dimensions
L. 3 x W. 4 1/2 inches 7.6 x 11.4 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Irish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1909
Accession Number
09.68.548
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, *Specimen* is a 19th-century Irish lace piece, measuring just by 4½ inches. Created by an unknown artist, tiny textile exemplifies the intricate craftsmanship of Irish lace-making traditions. Titled "Specimen," it likely served as a sample showcasing the precision and skill of crochet techniques, which were widely practiced in Ireland during the Victorian era as a cottage industry. Crochet, using a hooked needle to interlock yarn or thread into fine patterns, allowed artisans to replicate the airy, flor...