Strook van zwart kant c. 1920

This strip of black lace was created by Gustav Schnitzler, but we don’t know exactly when. It now resides in the Rijksmuseum. What can such a fragment tell us about the society that produced it? Lace, historically, was a luxury item, and the industrial revolution democratized its production. Examining the weave, material, and pattern of this lace can reveal its approximate time of origin. Black lace, in particular, gained popularity during the Victorian era, often associated with mourning attire, which speaks to the cultural rituals around death in the 19th century. The rise of department stores and fashion magazines also played a crucial role in disseminating trends and tastes, influencing the demand for items like this. To truly understand this object, we might consult textile history databases, fashion archives, and social histories of consumption. In doing so, we appreciate how seemingly simple artifacts are deeply embedded in the economic, social, and cultural fabric of their time.