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 narrow example of Mechlin lace was likely worn by Martha Washington or her granddaughter, Eliza Parke Custis, either as edging on a bonnet or on a neckline. Mechlin lace, dubbed “the queen of laces,” was initially known for its elaborate patterns, but later adapted to changing taste at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when women preferred more open, airy designs for their lace.