Mechlin lace lappet
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.