Fan Leaf thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Fan Leaf

1877-1878 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Naturalism in design was a particular characteristic of English bobbin lace made at Honiton in Devon and the surrounding area in the 1860s and the years following. Typically, the Bath and West of England's Agricultural Show show of 1864 held a competition for lace 'worked either in flowers, fruit, leaves or insects, strictly designed from nature' with £100 offered for the winning design.

This fan leaf was also entered into a design competition, held by the Fan Makers Company in 1878, for which it won second prize in one of the classes. It was purchased new by the Museum after the competition, for 10 guineas (£10.50).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bobbin lace
Brief description
Fan leaf, bobbin lace, designed with blackberries and butterflies, English, 1878
Physical description
Fan leaf (mount) of Honiton bobbin lace with a design depicting foliage, flowers, blackberries and butterflies. Made by Emma Radford. Awarded Second Prize (Class I, Section II) at the Exhibition of the Fan-makers' Company in 1878.
Dimensions
  • Length: 50cm
  • Width: 13cm
Object history
The pricking for this lace is in the collection of Exeter Museum
Summary
Naturalism in design was a particular characteristic of English bobbin lace made at Honiton in Devon and the surrounding area in the 1860s and the years following. Typically, the Bath and West of England's Agricultural Show show of 1864 held a competition for lace 'worked either in flowers, fruit, leaves or insects, strictly designed from nature' with £100 offered for the winning design.

This fan leaf was also entered into a design competition, held by the Fan Makers Company in 1878, for which it won second prize in one of the classes. It was purchased new by the Museum after the competition, for 10 guineas (£10.50).
Bibliographic reference
Doretta Davanzo Poli, Cinque secoli di merletti europei: i capolavori, 1984, cat. 13 Clare Browne, Lace from the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2004, p. 25, pl. 70
Collection
Accession number
319-1878

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Record createdJanuary 12, 2004
Record URL
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