Mechlin lace lappet

Lappets,
Late 18th Century,
Linen; bobbin lace

Status

Not on view

Label Text

Lace, the product of intense, time-consuming hand work, signaled prestige, power, and wealth, and consequently acted as an important finishing touch on elite dress. Martha Washington owned several sets of lace that she used to adorn her gowns, caps, and other accessories. This piece of Mechlin lace was likely used as a lappet (a long piece of lace designed to fall from each side of a woman’s cap) or as robing, which adorned the edge of a gown. Mechlin lace, dubbed “the queen of laces,” was known for its elaborate patterns throughout the eighteenth century.

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Date1765-1775

Geography Made - Belgium

Medium/TechniqueLinen, bobbin lace

DimensionsOverall: 2 3/4 in. × 6 1/8 in. (6.99 cm × 15.56 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Walter Gibson Peter, Jr. in memory of Agnes Peter Mott, 1975

Object numberW-2713/A

DescriptionMechlin white linen bobbin lace featuring scrolling floral sprigs and interlacing ribbon borders on a Mechlin hexagonal mesh ground. The primary element of this piece is the scrolling sprig of small and large flowers across the middle ground of the lace. The large blossoms feature large fancy filling. Both the upper and lower edges of the lace feature two plaited scrolls filled with snowflake mesh and dot-and-stripe mesh. The hexagonal Mechlin mesh ground has four twisted sides and two plaited sides. A shimmery gimp (thick outline thread) adds a distinctive sheen to the motifs.

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