Strip

Art Historical Context

This exquisite embroidered strip, dating to the 16th century, hails from Sicily with possible Spanish or Italian origins—a vibrant cultural crossroads during the Renaissance. Measuring a slender 28¼ × 5 inches (71.8 × 12.7 cm), it's crafted from luxurious silk threads worked onto a linen ground, a technique showcasing the era's masterful needlework. Such narrow bands were prized for adorning ecclesiastical vestments, altar linens, or elite garments, blending functionality with opulent decoration. The artwork's classification as a textile in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture ...