Not on display

Border

1750-1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This border of needle lace could have been used to edge a variety of men's and women's dress items, including cuffs and sleeve trimmings, neck cloths and kerchiefs, lace caps and other types of coiffure.

The French needle lace industry, centred in Alençon and Argentan, was badly affected by the early eighteenth century slump in trade. It could not adopt the muslin–like quality that fashion required in that period, and bobbin lace could assume; but with continued patronage from the Catholic church and some court use, particularly in Spain, Russia, and Poland, where French needle lace remained the prime lace for ceremonial occasions, the industry saw gradual development again. This border has the trailing flowers, open ground and detailed diaper-patterned fillings fashionable in lace in the mid century.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Needle lace worked in linen thread
Brief description
Border of Alençon needle lace, French, 1750s
Physical description
Border of Alençon needle lace. Open ground, with trails of flowers and leaves, and elliptical shapes filled with differing diaper patterns. The border has a needle-made ground. Bobbin-made footing.
Dimensions
  • Length: 1430mm
  • Width: 60mm
Measured by Conservation, 2012
Credit line
Given by Mrs E. D. Evans
Summary
This border of needle lace could have been used to edge a variety of men's and women's dress items, including cuffs and sleeve trimmings, neck cloths and kerchiefs, lace caps and other types of coiffure.

The French needle lace industry, centred in Alençon and Argentan, was badly affected by the early eighteenth century slump in trade. It could not adopt the muslin–like quality that fashion required in that period, and bobbin lace could assume; but with continued patronage from the Catholic church and some court use, particularly in Spain, Russia, and Poland, where French needle lace remained the prime lace for ceremonial occasions, the industry saw gradual development again. This border has the trailing flowers, open ground and detailed diaper-patterned fillings fashionable in lace in the mid century.
Collection
Accession number
T.5-1965

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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