Lace Border thumbnail 1
Lace Border thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 56, The Djanogly Gallery

Lace Border

1600-1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Lace-making developed in England during the 16th century in response to the growth in personal wealth and to changes in fashionable dress. Needle lace, still then seen as a branch of embroidery, was made in professional workshops in London. But through the teaching of embroidery as a domestic skill with needle lace stitches in the repertoire, lace was also made at home, for the decoration of household linen, clothing and other objects. This piece may have been made as a border for a decorative cover.

Design & Designing
The most popular subjects for the needlework pictures and other types of object to which this lace is related, were scenes from the Old Testament of the Bible and classical mythology, as well as abundant plant and animal life. This piece includes various motifs which the maker would have found in pattern books and which could have also been used for embroidery.

Subject Depicted
This border shows Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. In the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, they are the original human couple, parents of the human race. Alongside them, Cupid, the pagan god of love, is firing his bow and arrow to ensnare a lady, who may be identified by her crown as a queen or princess.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Needle lace
Brief description
lace, 1590-1610, British; Needle
Physical description
Lace border
Dimensions
  • Maximum height: 6.5cm
  • Width: 54.6cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 15/06/2000 by KB Dims expressed as per landscape orientation; KB did not unrol to check width(54.6)
Gallery label
British Galleries: This border would have involved less work than the needle lace panels also in this drawer, but it is still highly intricate. The scenes include the temptation of Adam and Eve, and Cupid firing an arrow at a queen.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Annie R. Callender
Object history
Made in England
Summary
Object Type
Lace-making developed in England during the 16th century in response to the growth in personal wealth and to changes in fashionable dress. Needle lace, still then seen as a branch of embroidery, was made in professional workshops in London. But through the teaching of embroidery as a domestic skill with needle lace stitches in the repertoire, lace was also made at home, for the decoration of household linen, clothing and other objects. This piece may have been made as a border for a decorative cover.

Design & Designing
The most popular subjects for the needlework pictures and other types of object to which this lace is related, were scenes from the Old Testament of the Bible and classical mythology, as well as abundant plant and animal life. This piece includes various motifs which the maker would have found in pattern books and which could have also been used for embroidery.

Subject Depicted
This border shows Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. In the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, they are the original human couple, parents of the human race. Alongside them, Cupid, the pagan god of love, is firing his bow and arrow to ensnare a lady, who may be identified by her crown as a queen or princess.
Collection
Accession number
T.124-1924

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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