Lace Towel End
Cleveland Museum of Art

Lace Towel End

c. 1700s–1800s

cotton or linen (est.) straight (continuous) bobbin lace (Vologda tape lace). The tape forms figural or plant motifs outlined with gimp (heavy cord) with a monochrome plaited ground (metal thread or linen (est.) linking the tape; applied silk (est.) and metal thread ribbon
CC0 — Public Domain
Cleveland Museum of Art

Embellishing the ends of everyday towels was a common folk tradition in many cultures because it displayed the skill of the mother or daughter who stitched them.

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