Italian, Umbria
Lace Border, 16th century - early 17th century
Linen, buratto and bobbin lace, 381 x 15.3 cm (150 x 6 in.)
This white lace floral border is over 12 feet long and 6 inches wide with a vertical repeat approximately every 10 inches. It has been partly darned onto a woven net (buratto technique) and in other parts done with bobbin lace construction. It has a white linen border on one edge and the other edge has an elaborate continuous border of tiny pennant shapes and alternating thick and thin dots. The main design is a stylized four-petaled flower head connected to a sharp angled stem forming a triangular design interspersed with stylized curvy leaf designs. There is a central repeating S shaped form between the flower heads. Curlicues decorate an internal border design on each side. The netting is plain and loose with damage and holes in many sections.
Veronese Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.