Border
1675/1700
Medium
Linen, needle lace with woven tapes
Dimensions
18.3 × 356.5 cm (7 9/16 × 140 3/8 in.); Repeat approx.: H.: 39.4 cm (15 9/16 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31317
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Textiles Department of the Art Institute of Chicago, *Border* is a stunning example of late 17th-century needle lace craftsmanship, dating between 1675 and 1700. Crafted from fine linen threads with integrated woven tapes, this elongated piece measures a slender 18.3 cm high by an impressive 356.5 cm long, featuring a repeating motif every 39.4 cm. Its delicate, intricate design exemplifies the height of Baroque-era lacework, where artisans transformed simple threads into lavish ornamental borders. Needle lace, or *point de needle*, was a meticulous technique popular in Europe—...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...