French
Lace Flounce, 17th century
Linen, needle lace, 294.6 x 24.5 cm (116 x 9 5/8 in.)
This over nine-foot long, relatively narrow, 17th Century French lace flounce is covered with a wide variety of repeating motifs which form columns across the narrow width of the flounce, and are linked together in varying combinations. The primary motifs include large diamond shapes subdivided into smaller diamond shapes each holding a flower; urns decorated with a row of crosses within diamond shapes, holding a round fruit; and large blossoms, primarily roses and carnations; all interspersed with densely populated, small flowers and leaves against a hexagonal mesh background. The flounce is scalloped on one side and on the other side, straight, edged by a linen strip.
Veronese Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.