Strip
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Machine net
Dimensions
L. 14 x W. 9 inches 35.6 x 22.9 cm
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Spanish
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
08.180.871
Art Historical Context
This exquisite lace strip, hailing from 19th-century Spain, exemplifies the artistry of European textile traditions preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department. Measuring 14 by 9 inches (35.6 x 22.9 cm), it is crafted from machine net—a innovative material that marked a pivotal shift during the Industrial Revolution. Machine net provided a sturdy, affordable ground for lace patterns, blending mechanical precision with the lingering elegance of handmade designs, and was widely used for trims on garments, veils, and furnishings. In Spanish cul...