The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

Fragment of a Border with Standing and Seated Birds Amidst Vegetation

1500s

Italy, 1500s

Bleached linen (est.): needle lace, burato (twined ground and darned in one direction)
Overall: 40.1 x 46.4 cm (15 13/16 x 18 1/4 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1920.1141
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The word lace derives from the Latin laqueus, meaning noose.

Description

Three distinct bird species appear in this fragment distinguished through their body, neck, and feather shapes. In the period this lace was created, there was growing interest in the scientific study of birds, called ornithology. Ornithological books and prints depicted accurate records of birds, which deviated from previous fanciful portrayals.
  • Ida Schiff Collection
    J.H. Wade
    1920-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Ricci, Elisa. Old Italian Lace. 1913. v. 1 no. 97
  • {{cite web|title=Fragment of a Border with Standing and Seated Birds Amidst Vegetation|url=false|author=|year=1500s|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1920.1141