Cloth with Border of Vegetal Pattern

19th century

Cloth with Border of Vegetal Pattern, 19th century. Italy, 19th century. Plain weave linen with needle lace, filet/lacis (knotted ground and darned in two directions); bleached linen (est.); overall: 91 x 141.7 cm (35 13/16 x 55 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Louise Tifft Brown 1933.336 A scrolling vine with budding vegetation or a tendril motif is a recurring pattern in needle lace. The frequent use of the motif, adapted in lace from different centuries and regions, suggests that it was found in a pattern book. This cloth was given to the museum by Louise Tifft Brown, a native Clevelander who became an expert in lace while living in Venice for 35 years.