Fan Leaf thumbnail 1
Fan Leaf thumbnail 2
+4
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Fan Leaf

1899 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

While machine-made lace was widely available to all classes of society through the second half of the 19th century, the fashion for high quality hand-made lace saw a boom in the 1890s and 1900s, peaking between 1895 and 1905. During this time there was a revival in the taste for black Chantilly-style lace, like this piece, which had seen its greatest period of popularity in the 1850s and 1860s.

This silk bobbin lace fan mount is part of Lady Harcourt's trousseau ordered from the leading fashion house Worth of Paris for her wedding on 1 July, 1899. Other matching lace in the set included a pair of flounces and a handkerchief. The lace was made for Worth by the manufacturer Georges Robert of Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy. Lady Harcourt seems to have had a particular liking for irises, as she had a fine Burano needle lace stole of the same date, also given to the museum, with this same beautiful flower as the dominant motif.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 7 parts.

  • Fan Mount
  • Flounce
  • Handkerchief
  • Box
  • Box
  • Box
  • Border
Materials and techniques
Silk bobbin lace
Brief description
blace silk bobbin lace fan leaf with design of irises, French, 1899
Physical description
Lace fan-leaf
Dimensions
  • Maximum width: 66cm
  • At centre depth: 20cm
Credit line
Given from the collection of Mary, Viscountess Harcourt GBE
Object history
RF number is 1961/1867.

The fan leaf was displayed in the "Textile Art of France" exhibition in 1979.

Part of Lady Harcourt's trousseau ordered from Worth of Paris for her wedding on 1 July 1899.
Summary
While machine-made lace was widely available to all classes of society through the second half of the 19th century, the fashion for high quality hand-made lace saw a boom in the 1890s and 1900s, peaking between 1895 and 1905. During this time there was a revival in the taste for black Chantilly-style lace, like this piece, which had seen its greatest period of popularity in the 1850s and 1860s.

This silk bobbin lace fan mount is part of Lady Harcourt's trousseau ordered from the leading fashion house Worth of Paris for her wedding on 1 July, 1899. Other matching lace in the set included a pair of flounces and a handkerchief. The lace was made for Worth by the manufacturer Georges Robert of Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy. Lady Harcourt seems to have had a particular liking for irises, as she had a fine Burano needle lace stole of the same date, also given to the museum, with this same beautiful flower as the dominant motif.
Collection
Accession number
T.30-1965

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest