Artwork Page for Lace Pillow

Details / Information for Lace Pillow

Lace Pillow

1800s

Spain

Medium
Bobbin lace (torchon lace) pillow; paper, pins, wood bobbins, linen thread
Measurements
Overall: 18.5 x 72.5 x 24 cm (7 5/16 x 28 9/16 x 9 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of J. H. Wade 1914.533
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The boxwood bobbins are handmade. At one point, these boxwood bobbins were cut off, perhaps to use them for another piece of lace, and have since been reknotted to the linen thread on this bobbin lace pillow.

Description

Spanish bobbin lace is made on a cylindrical straw-stuffed bolster pillow of a size and shape like this one. Further evidence of a Spanish origin is the shape and materials of the handmade bobbins (boxwood in this case). The lace maker would have sat with one short end of the pillow (the end with the bobbins) in her lap and the other end propped against a table. A pattern (pricking) on red card stock is pinned to the pillow around the perimeter. Linen thread is wound on the boxwood bobbins. To create this Torchon lace edging, the thread on the bobbins is crossed and twisted to create a connection. A pin is then placed in the pillow to correctly space each connection. Once complete, the pins are removed, and the bobbin lace separated from the pillow. The 15.2 cm (6-inch) wide piece of Torchon lace edging created on this pillow is a common type of lace, easy and fast to make. It has leaf-shaped tallies. The foot side (straight edge) of the Torchon lace edging on this pillow would have been sewn to the edge of a garment or a furnishing fabric. The scalloped edge is referred to as the headside of this Torchon lace.
A horizontally long gold cylindrical pillow supports a rectangular red base for fine cream-colored lace. On the right, the lace displays intricate circular floral designs and mesh. Numerous slender wooden bobbins cluster along the left and edges, connected by fine cream threads stretching across a black-lined pattern. The composition highlights the transition from individual threads into a structured, mirrored pattern of large and small stylized flowers and organic shapes.

Lace Pillow

1800s

Spain

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

    Update or Correct Artwork Information

    Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

    Report a Website Issue

    Further Questions About This Artwork