The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Fragment of a Border with Abstract Pattern

1500s

Italy, Sicily, 1500s

Unbleached and bleached linen (est.), or cotton (est.): needle lace, burato (twined ground and darned in one direction); brown silk (est.): bobbin lace edging
Overall: 8 x 19.1 cm (3 1/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1920.1123
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The frayed quality of the fragment causes the buratto pattern to appear abstracted, but it was likely a flowering vine.

Description

The dark yellow ground of the unbleached linen allows for the pattern, worked in bleached linen in the buratto technique, to stand out. Brown silk thread has also been incorporated, adding a shimmering effect to the contrasting colors.
  • Ida Schiff Collection
    J.H. Wade
    1920-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Fragment of a Border with Abstract Pattern|url=false|author=|year=1500s|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1920.1123