Tassel
Unknown Artist
17th–19th century
Medium
silk; metal
Dimensions
29 x 8 cm (11 1/2 x 3 1/4 in) cord 76.5 cm (30 1/8 in)
Classification
Textiles
Culture
European
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2431
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, exquisite *Tassel* exemplifies the opulent textile artistry of 17th- to 19th-century Europe.ed from lustrous silk interwoven with shimmering metal threads, it measures a compact 29 x 8 cm at its head, with a graceful 76.5 cm cord—perfectly scaled for adorning garments, furnishings, or ceremonial objects. Though the artist remains unknown, the piece reflects the meticulous craftsmanship of European textile workshops, where skilled artisans knotted, braided, and looped fibers to create dynamic, three-dimensional forms. T...