Strip
Unknown Artist
late 18th century
Medium
Needle lace
Dimensions
L. 26 x W. 2 3/4 inches (66.0 x 7.0 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Laces
Culture
Italian, Burano
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1879
Accession Number
79.1.178
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 16...