Press Room
Lace Fabric by Melody Amsel-Arieli
05/01/2023Published in The Journal Of Antiques & Collectibles, May 2023.
Faded doilies and lacy gloves may evoke visions of bygone afternoon teas in overstuffed parlors. Yet these openwork textiles were likely inspired by highly embroidered Italian Renaissance church vestments.In time, decorative needle lace—hundreds of impossibly tiny, twisted, looped, knotted, and plaited hand-worked needle stitches forming delicate, openwork fabric—followed. During the 16th century, needlecraft was considered a virtuous, ladylike pursuit. So, aristocratic girls and women spent much of their time adorning linens, samplers, under-garments, handkerchiefs, gloves, cuffs, and caps with elegant silver, gold, or silk needle lace edgings. They also hand-stitched frothy lace sleeves, cuffs, petticoats, ribbons, jackets, and wide, flat collars. Though few of these historic garments have survived intact, fragments may be seen in select museums.
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