Threads of Power: Lace from the Textilmuseum St. Gallen is the first large-scale exhibition in New York in 40 years to trace the history of lace in fashion from its sixteenth-century origins to today. Featuring more than 150 objects from the extensive collection at the Textilmuseum St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland, the installation discusses historical and contemporary lacemaking techniques and the changing use of lace in fashion as well as illuminates the work of the now-unknown lacemakers who crafted this sought-after textile.
This online companion explores the major themes of the exhibition: the development of early lace from existing textile traditions, styles in lace at the Habsburg and Bourbon courts, and nineteenth-century lace mechanization, including chemical lace, which was developed in eastern Switzerland in the 1880s and is still produced in St. Gallen for use in contemporary couture. Interactive features and audio invites visitors to look closely at objects on display and learn about this intricate textile and the people who made, designed, sold, and wore it.
This online companion explores the major themes of the exhibition: the development of early lace from existing textile traditions, styles in lace at the Habsburg and Bourbon courts, and nineteenth-century lace mechanization, including chemical lace, which was developed in eastern Switzerland in the 1880s and is still produced in St. Gallen for use in contemporary couture. Interactive features and audio invites visitors to look closely at objects on display and learn about this intricate textile and the people who made, designed, sold, and wore it.
