Bedspread

Lace has long been a popular way of embellishing bedcovers, sheets and other bedroom furnishings. The central panel of this bedspread is made of lacis (filet), with borders created by piecing together more than eight different laces and patterns. Lacis is created by needleweaving imagery on a knotted net ground and, unlike other forms of lace, was often made on a large scale, providing the opportunity for pictorial design. The iconography seen on this piece is associated with Christianity. For instance, the lamb with the banner represents the 'Lamb of God;' the unicorn is associated with the Virgin Mary; the griffon symbolizes the dual nature of Christ; the ox may be either the apostle Luke or a symbol of Christ's sacrifice; the monkey with the mirror signifies the devil. This bedspread appears to be a product of the seventeenth century; both the iconography and the various types of lace are very typical of this period. In fact, the piece is a reproduction, created in the late nineteenth century by Italian peasant women who revived the production of old laces as a home craft industry.