Collar thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Collar

second half of 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Collar made of a type of heavily textured needle lace, known as gros point de Venise, which was the most fashionable choice between the 1660s and the 1680s for both men and women. During this period the wearing of extravagant displays of lace was increasingly used as a mark of wealth and status. The showiest effects were achieved with lace worn at the throat and at the wrist, setting off the face and hands, but a fashionable man might even have matching lace borders trimming his boot hose.

Materials & Making
Lace for collars and cuffs could be bought either by length or by the piece made to shape, and might be brought back in either form by English travellers returning from abroad. It was then usually taken to a milliner to be made up or at a later stage to be adapted into a newly fashionable style.

Trading
In an attempt to protect the English lace industry a royal proclamation was issued in 1662 forbidding the importation or selling of foreign lace. The royal family was exempt from this prohibition, which also seems to have been widely flouted by members of the court and other fashionable people, for Venetian needle lace of this type continued to be freely sold and worn in London.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Collar (Neckwear)
  • Collar (Neckwear)
Materials and techniques
Needle lace worked in linen thread
Brief description
Collar of two halves of needle lace worked in linen thread, Venice, second half of the 17th century
Physical description
Collar of two halves of needle lace worked in linen thread. Each piece is in the shape of a truncated right angled triangle and the patterns of each are arranged so as to be symmetrical when the short sides are placed together. The pattern consists of scrolling branches bearing formalised flowers and leaves. The pattern is of an open characted and the 'brides picotees' joining the sections are fairly conspicuous. There is a border of buttonhole stitches decorated with little semicircular picots all round each piece.
Dimensions
  • Collar length length: 454mm
  • Collar width: 312mm
  • Collar length part a length: 449mm
  • Collar width part b width: 308mm
Credit line
Bequeathed by the Trust of Mrs S.B.P. Lawrie
Object history
Registered File Number 1962/2172. Set of dress accessories T.6 to C-1963
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
Collar made of a type of heavily textured needle lace, known as gros point de Venise, which was the most fashionable choice between the 1660s and the 1680s for both men and women. During this period the wearing of extravagant displays of lace was increasingly used as a mark of wealth and status. The showiest effects were achieved with lace worn at the throat and at the wrist, setting off the face and hands, but a fashionable man might even have matching lace borders trimming his boot hose.

Materials & Making
Lace for collars and cuffs could be bought either by length or by the piece made to shape, and might be brought back in either form by English travellers returning from abroad. It was then usually taken to a milliner to be made up or at a later stage to be adapted into a newly fashionable style.

Trading
In an attempt to protect the English lace industry a royal proclamation was issued in 1662 forbidding the importation or selling of foreign lace. The royal family was exempt from this prohibition, which also seems to have been widely flouted by members of the court and other fashionable people, for Venetian needle lace of this type continued to be freely sold and worn in London.
Collection
Accession number
T.6&A-1963

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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