Not currently on display at the V&A

Flounce

1730-1770 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bobbin lace flounce for a dress or furnishing valance of Brussels-type lace made with a drochel net and pattern pieces in whole and half stitch, and outlined with raised woven edgings. With some decorative filling stitches. The drochel net is worked irregularly and is worked on a slightly smaller scale in the left hand half. The thread used for the pattern pieces is soft and slightly fluffy. This, together with the irregularity of the ground and the ill-drawn, slug-like leaves and scrolled roses, suggest an English rather that a Flemish origin.

The pattern is open leaving a large amount of plain ground. The lower edge is lined with leaves, flowerheads and ill-defined mounds. Loosely-drawn flowering plants with exotic leaves and flower rise diagonally from the edge to fill the central area, and with smaller sprigs between. The length of the repeat (46 inches, 117 cms) suggests the flounce was originally very long. It is cut at both ends and the left hand end has been turned and whipped over. It is attached to its original bobbin-made heading.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bobbin lace worked in linen thread
Brief description
Bobbin lace flounce for a dress or furnishing valance, probably made in Honiton, 1730-1770
Physical description
Bobbin lace flounce for a dress or furnishing valance of Brussels-type lace made with a drochel net and pattern pieces in whole and half stitch, and outlined with raised woven edgings. With some decorative filling stitches. The drochel net is worked irregularly and is worked on a slightly smaller scale in the left hand half. The thread used for the pattern pieces is soft and slightly fluffy. This, together with the irregularity of the ground and the ill-drawn, slug-like leaves and scrolled roses, suggest an English rather that a Flemish origin.

The pattern is open leaving a large amount of plain ground. The lower edge is lined with leaves, flowerheads and ill-defined mounds. Loosely-drawn flowering plants with exotic leaves and flower rise diagonally from the edge to fill the central area, and with smaller sprigs between. The length of the repeat (46 inches, 117 cms) suggests the flounce was originally very long. It is cut at both ends and the left hand end has been turned and whipped over. It is attached to its original bobbin-made heading.
Dimensions
  • Repeat length: 46in
  • Repeat length: 117cm
  • Without heading width: 9.25in
  • Without heading width: 23.5cm
  • Heading width: 0.25in
  • Heading width: 0.5cm
  • Length: 92in
  • Length: 228cm
Object history
Registered File number 1986/636.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
T.63-1986

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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