Strook gemengde kant voor een superplie met voluutranken
ca. 1640 - ca. 1660
Medium
mixed lace
Dimensions
306; 20
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Strook naturelkleurige gemengde kant: mezzo punto. De strook is bestemd voor een superplie en heeft een symmetrisch patroon van voluutranken, met rozetbloemen, waaiervormige bloemen en acanthusbladeren op een zeshoekige maasgrond (naaldkant). De contouren van het patroon worden gevormd door een geklost lint met gaatjes. Binnen de contouren verschillende naaldkant siergronden. Strook met drie naden. De bovenzijde is afgewerkt met een rechte rand. De onderzijde en zijkanten zijn afgezet met een re...
Art Historical Context
This exquisite strip of mixed lace, titled *Strook gemengde kant voor een superplie met voluutranken*, dates to around 1640–1660 and was crafted anonymously for a superplie—a flowing white liturgical vestment worn by clergy during religious services. Measuring an impressive 306 cm long 20 cm wide, its natural-colored mezzo punto lace combines bobbin and needle techniques, showcasing the pinnacle of 17th-century textile artistry from likely Flemish or Italian workshops, where lace was a symbol of piety and prestige in ecclesiastical settings. The design features a symmetrical pattern of swirling volute vines adorned with rosette flowers, fan-shaped blooms, and acanthus leaves, all set against a delicate hexagonal mesh ground of needle lace. Bold outlines are formed by a bobbin lace ribbon pierced with holes, enclosing varied ornamental needle lace grounds for depth and texture. Finished with three seams, a straight top edge, and picoted bobbin lace arches along the bottom and sides, it reflects Baroque opulence in its intricate balance of symmetry and organic flourish. In the Baroque era, such lace elevated church rituals, blending craftsmanship with spiritual symbolism—acanthus leaves evoking divine resilience. Though anonymous, this piece highlights lace's role as a virtuoso medium, rivaling painting in complexity and now preserved as a rare survivor of opulent religious couture.
About the Artist
anonymous
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...