Skip to Main Content
65/92

Needlework

Figure 56 Bed curtain border, fourth quarter 19th century;
artist: Unknown Russian;
Lacis, drawnwork, bobbin lace, and linen, 21 1/2 x 75 in. (54.6 x 190.5 cm);
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York), Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Greenman Stillman, 1931, 2009.300.3452 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.

Object/Work🔺

  • Catalog Level:🔺 item (value type: controlled list)
  • Type:🔺 curtain border (value type: authority)

Classification🔺

  • Terms:🔺
    decorative arts
    textiles
    folk art
    Russian art (value type: controlled list)

Titles or Names🔺

  • Text:🔺 Bed Curtain Border (value type: free text)
    Preference: preferred (value type: controlled list)
    Type: repository

Creation🔺

  • Creator Description:🔺 unknown Russian, collected by Natalia de Shabelsky (Russian collector, 1841-1905) (value type: free text)

  • Identity:🔺 unknown Russian (_value type: authority)
    Role:🔺 embroiderer

  • Identity:🔺 Shabelsky, Natalia de
    Role:🔺 collector

  • Creation Date:🔺 forth quarter of the 19th century (value type: free text)
    Earliest:🔺 1875 Latest:🔺 1900 (value type: controlled format)

Style/Period/Group/Movement

  • Indexing Terms: Folk art (value type: authority)

Measurements🔺

  • Dimensions Description:🔺 54.6 x 190.5 cm (21 1/2 x 75 inches) (value type: free text)

  • Value: 54.6 Unit: cm Type: height
    Value: 190.5 Unit: cm Type: width (value type: controlled format and controlled lists)

Materials and Techniques🔺

  • Description:🔺 Lacis, drawnwork, bobbin lace, and linen (value type: free text)

  • Material Name:
    lacis
    lace
    linen
    Technique Name: embroidering (value type: authority)

Subject Matter🔺

  • Indexing Terms:🔺
    object (utilitarian)
    buildings
    animals
    spirituality
    unicorns (value type: authority)

Descriptive Note

  • Text: This bed curtain border exemplifies the Russian folk art tradition with its myriad filling patterns including animals, buildings, and a unicorn likely symbolizing spiritual purity. Though created by a member of Russia’s wealthy peasant class, this work was later collected and preserved by Natalia de Shabelsky, a Russian noblewoman who amassed a robust collection of Russian folk art between 1870-1902. (value type: free text)

  • Citation: The Met Collection online (value type: authority)
    Page: accessed 18 July 2024 (value type: free text)

Current Location🔺

  • Repository Name/Geographic Location:🔺 The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York, United States) (value type: authority)
    Repository Numbers:🔺 2009.300.3452 (value type: free text)

NOTE: 🔺 indicates a core CDWA category.

Revised 24 July 2024
by Emily Benoff

Figure 56 Bed curtain border, fourth quarter 19th century;
artist: Unknown Russian;
Lacis, drawnwork, bobbin lace, and linen, 21 1/2 x 75 in. (54.6 x 190.5 cm);
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York), Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Greenman Stillman, 1931, 2009.300.3452 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.