Set of three doilies c. 20th century

This set of three doilies was made anonymously, sometime in the past, out of thread. I love the way they repeat a circular form across the square, like a kind of geometric dance. I can't help but imagine the process of making this doily – the hours of work, the focus, and the dedication that went into creating these intricate patterns. Can you imagine holding the thread and needle, carefully looping and knotting, trying not to get it all tangled up? It's so easy to make a mistake! It's almost sculptural, like a drawing made in space. The texture and the subtle variations in the stitching give it depth and dimension. It’s not just a functional object, but a form of embodied expression that speaks to the human desire to create beauty and order in the world. And it reminds me that we artists, no matter our medium, are always in conversation with those who came before us.