Lace Borders

France, Valenciennes

18th Centurylace - bobbintextile

Date

Mid-18th century

Medium

Linen, bobbin straight lace of a type known as "Valenciennes" with a Five-Hole mesh ground

Dimensions

a: 8.4 × 179.8 cm (3 1/4 × 70 3/4 in.); b: 8.3 × 98.4 cm (3 1/4 × 38 3/4 in.); Repeat: W.: 18.6 cm (14 3/4 in.); Heading: H.: 3 cm (1/8 in.)

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Location

Chicago, IL

Credit

Bequest of Mrs. Edward E. Ayer in memory of Edward E. Ayer

The lace decorations that ornamented women’s dresses were separate from the dresses themselves. They required many yards of lace and, since fine lace was expensive, people sought substitutes that mimicked the light, translucent nature of the fabric. Here, the sleeve ruffles are made of a woven linen that has been skillfully embroidered to look like lace.

Also notable

Works in the same vein

A27: Virginia Kitchen, 18th Century

Designed by Narcissa Niblack Thorne American, 1882-1966

E-22: French Provincial Bedroom of the Louis XV Period, 18th Century

Designed by Narcissa Niblack Thorne American, 1882-1966

Side Chair

Giles Grendey (English, 1693–1780) London, England

Looking Glass

Artist unknown (American, 18th–19th century) New York