Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Fragment* from 17th-century Germany exemplifies the exquisite artistry of cutwork, a lace-making technique where threads are meticulously cut from fine linen fabric and secured with intricate embroidery stitches. Measuring just 14 by 8 inches (35.6 x 20.3 cm), this surviving piece—now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art European Sculpture and Decorative Department—was acquired through the Rogers Fund in 190. Its classification as a textile lace highlights the era's mastery in transforming everyday cloth into ornamental marvels. In the Baroque age, German cutwork flourished...