Spray
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Needle lace
Dimensions
L. 1 1/2 x W. 1 1/2 inches 3.8 x 3.8 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Greek, Athens
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Nuttall Collection, Gift of Mrs. Magdalena Nuttall, 1908
Accession Number
08.180.391
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Sculpture and Decorative Arts, *Spray* is a example of 19th-century lace from Athens, Greece. Measuring just 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches (3.8 x 3.8 cm), this tiny square masterpiece captures the delicate beauty of lacework, likely evoking a floral spray through its intricate stitching. Created by an unknown artist, it entered the museum in 1908 as part of The Nuttall Collection generously gifted by Mrs. Magdalenauttall. Needle lace, a labor-intensive technique, involves hand-stitching threads with a needle to form a freeform fabric, distinct from bobbin la...