Lint op rol, wit satijn met in het midden een streep ajourwerk gevat tussen twee strepen zwart, één zijde is geschulpt en afgezet met een golvende rand in wit c. 1890 - 1935

Curator: Ah, this piece offers a fascinating glimpse into the industrial arts! Here we have "Lint op rol, wit satijn met in het midden een streep ajourwerk gevat tussen twee strepen zwart, één zijde is geschulpt en afgezet met een golvende rand in wit," or, translated, "Ribbon on a roll, white satin with a strip of openwork in the middle enclosed between two black stripes, one side is scalloped and trimmed with a wavy edge in white," dating roughly from 1890 to 1935. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My goodness, it's lovely, yet austere. The creamy off-white color and tidy roll give a sense of preserved delicacy. I can almost feel the coolness of the satin and see someone carefully unwinding it for use, like it's precious material to be savored and spun into other treasures. Curator: Absolutely. It speaks to a very specific aesthetic of its time. It's product photography from what appears to be the turn of the century, meant to showcase not merely the item, but also its implicit promise. Look at the crisp lines and balanced staging—it’s an industrial product elevated almost to fine art by virtue of its presentation. Editor: It makes me consider where this was ultimately destined for - what article of clothing, what fashionable trimming. How mundane yet important it would have been, as a crucial component of any atelier's supplies. Curator: Exactly. One could look at the materials themselves, satin, the ajour work which hints at more delicate artisanal practices integrated into mass production, as a narrative of the changing economic landscape and technological innovation impacting dressmaking and home crafts. Editor: So, something meant to beautify might itself become an artifact of study, its beauty shifting in definition with time. Amazing. It now occupies this strange space between utilitarian object, commercial subject, and cultural icon. It’s all just… there. Curator: And that encapsulation in time provides tremendous value. Thanks for shedding light, with me. Editor: A perfect trim, a full spool of joy! Always a pleasure.