Shawl

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Point de gaze lace produced in Belgium was highly valued in the second half of the 19th century. A signature characteristic is the two-dimensional rose motif which adds surface interest. Often lace pieces of this size combine handmade motifs with machine-made net grounds, but this is completely handmade. It would have been extremely expensive to produce, considering the sheer size of the piece, the density of the motifs and the time required to work it all by hand. It is a premier example of mid-19th century lace-making.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art