The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

Fragment of a Band with Confronted Birds, a Formal Tree, and Smaller Animals

1500s

Italy, 1500s

Bleached linen (est.): needle lace, burato (twined ground and darned in one direction)
Overall: 39.1 x 45.6 cm (15 3/8 x 17 15/16 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1920.1142
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

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

Description

Birds, perhaps eagles, confront each other on this corner fragment. Of particular interest is how they are surrounded by smaller animals and framed by a geometric structure. This could reference a family’s heraldry, or show the lace maker’s skill in rendering figural and geometric motifs.
  • Ida Schiff Collection
    J.H. Wade
    1920-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Fragment of a Band with Confronted Birds, a Formal Tree, and Smaller Animals|url=false|author=|year=1500s|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1920.1142