Strip

Art Historical Context

Step into the delicate world of 18th-century Italian craftsmanship with *Strip*, a exquisite example of needle lace from Burano, the renowned lace-making island near Venice. Created by an unknown artist in the late 1700s, this narrow strip measures 26 by 2¾ inches and exemplifies the pinnacle of textile artistry. Needle lace, or *punto in aria*, is entirely by hand with a needle and thread over a paper pattern, allowing for intricate, free-form designs that transcend woven fabrics—unlike bobbin lace, it offers unparalleled fluidity and detail. Burano's lace tradition, flourishing since the 16th century under strict guild protections, made it a luxury export across Europe, adorning aristocratic garments, altar cloths, and furnishings. By the late 18th century, as tastes shifted from opulent Baroque to refined Neoclassicism, pieces like this strip highlighted the technical virtuosity of local *merlettaie* (lace makers), who spent countless hours perfecting motifs that symbolized wealth and piety. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department since an anonymous 1879 gift, *Strip* invites you to marvel at its preserved elegance. Up close, it whispers of Venice's glittering past, a testament to the enduring allure of handmade lace in an industrialized age.