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IN SEARCH OF LACE.... took us to Cantu, Italy for THE 14th INTERNATIONAL LACE

BIENNIAL...and then Valletta Malta in October of 2019 and August of 2021 to Amsterdam Netherlands and Krakow Poland

Maltese Lace Pillow (above)

Reticella Lace at The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (above)

Cantu Lace, Late 19th Century (above)

Maltese Lace-making Pillows and Tools (below)

In Search of Lace

9th Marquis Nicholas de Piro
shared his precious family collection of Maltese Lace with Mary Salmon at Valletta, Malta and it was a pleasure meeting his colleague Caroline Tonna (above).

Visit their Websites:

https://www.casaroccapiccola.com

http://www.palazzofalson.com/

Photos: The Living Lace Exhibit

Brugge, Belgium 2018 (below)

New to the Museum is an astonishing piece of (tagged) Aemilia Ars Society Silk Lace. Bologna, Italy, circa 1900 (above).

We are proud to exhibit a new collection of Antique/Vintage Lace-making Pillows purchased at auction in London. (above)

 19th Century Handmade Lace & Linen Lace-making Tools, Textiles, and Fashion. Sales of Fine Antique Lace, Linen, & Textiles Vintage Fashion, Fabrics, Buttons......

THE EXHIBIT FOR WINTER 2018:

From the MARCHE AUS PUCES DE SAINT-OUEN FLEA MARKET IN PARIS WITH NEW SENSATIONAL HANDMADE PARISIAN LACE DRAPERIES circa , 1900. (above)

Antique Ecclesiastical Lace on exhibit at

St. Giles Catholic Church Brugges, Belgium (above and below).

Detail of a Cantu Lace Tablecloth, 

Italy circa 1890

from a visit to Cantu, 

Italy October 2019 (above)

The Lace Museum exhibits 19th Century Antique Lace Bobbins, Lace Making Tools, Antique Thread, Dressmaking Tools, and Antique Sewing Machines. Lace Making Bobbins were mostly constructed from wood, bone and even various metals; very rarely an ivory bobbin can be found. An example of a Bone Bobbin can be found, above, inscribed with Mary and spangled with glass beads.

A superb mint-condition Lace Fan with Mother of Pearl sticks with a beautifully detailed painting of a courting couple. The fan is signed, probably Brussels Lace circa 1900 (above).

 A 16th century lace pattern (Reticella) from Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Pourtaicts; Federico de Vinciolo, dated 1587, shows how far into the past the art of Lacemaking extends. (above).

Wealthy Victorian and Edwardian family households would commonly have Bed Linens constructed of the finest Linen, derived from famous Flax Fields such as those found in the cooler regions of Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, Flanders, or Ireland. They were also elaborately hand-embroidered and monogrammed with a Family Crest or Initials (above).

Edwardian Embroidered Tablecloth depicting the life of Joan of Arc (above).

Italian Needlelace, circa 1870 (above)

The Lace Museum 

shows rotating exhibits 

of Authentic Victorian &

 Edwardian Fashion: Day Dresses, Promenade Dress, Vintage and

 Antique Evening Gowns, and

 clothing from the American 

Civil War. Rotating exhibits

 of Hand-made Bobbin Lace, 

Needlelace, and Victorian 

Machine-made Lace from Italy, 

France, Belgium, Germany, 

England, Ireland, Russia, 

and the Far-East.

Antique Needle and Bobbin Lace could also be richly decorated with glass beads and metallic thread, such as this lovely and rare piece of Victorian Trim for an Evening gown (above).

 Handmade Lace has become nearly extinct over the course of history due in large part to the introduction of Lace Machinery. In America, the decline of the Pillow Lace Making craft at the Massachusetts Bay Colony of Ipswich suffered due to the production of Machine made Lace (above).

An original Victorian-era Detroit Designer - Hugo Hill - Visiting Ensemble. (above and below).

An Extraordinary Masterpiece of FRENCH  Handmade Chantilly Lace; Shawl measuring 60" length; 150" width.       

Antique Lacemaking Bobbins,

probably mid-19th century (above).

       18th Century Alb:

Handmade Needle Lace in the

Italian Reticella Style (above).

Handmade 19th Century Needlelace often depicted mythical characters, historical events, a pastoral or country scene (above).

The Lace Museum Detroit also exhibits Edwardian Era Textile and Lace Fashion in the form of clothing, as well as hats, shoes, and purses of the period, similar to those in the photograph above. 

Italian Needlelace, circa 1870 (above)

The Lace Museum Detroit was a mere 1000 square feet, but with tall ceilings and ongoing organization, as well as the nature of rotating exhibits, it was a sufficient space to carefully exhibit many pieces of Antique Lace, Linen, and Antique Clothing.  THE LACE MUSEUM now does only seasonal SALE and EXHBITS BY REQUEST 

Contact: Mary Salmon-Montone at PH. (937) 681-7219  OR E-mail  marysalmon781@hotmail.com

​

A Pine Flax Break, dated 1870, is one of the tools of Flax Processing. Later, after the Spinning stage is complete, the term flax linen is used, which eventually become Linen Thread (above)

Cantù Lace, similar to this fabulous framed piece below, is a Bobbin Lace that may have originated in Northern Italy.....It is often rich with scrolls and tendrils in the background. This piece offers an opulent and bold male figure - perhaps a Conquistador or Nobleman. The thread used is a relatively heavy oatmeal-hued Linen, circa 1900 (perhaps earlier) (below).

                                                                       The Museum holds rotating exhibits of Victorian and Edwardian Clothing.

Irish Linen, and Linen Thread is considered some of the very finest Linen in the world due, in large part, to the cool climate of Ireland that allows the finest Flax production. In the Victorian Era, Barbour's Thread was some of  the most well-know. (below).

Italian Lace artists in Florence produced the most exquisite an

 varied lace in the world. Not only did The Florence Lace 

Manufactory create Italian Lace, but French and English Lace

as well. (below).

English Lace-making Cookie-shape Pillow stuffed with Horse Hair in the process of designing Needle Lace Floral Medallions or Motifs, circa 1890 (above).

The Museum has available for purchase Antique/Vintage Clothing.

The Lace Museum, Detroit exhibits magnificent Victorian and Edwardian Era Table Linens, some of which are for sale.

The Lace Museum Detroit also has on exhibit a few very early sewing machines, such as this beautiful Willcox and Gibbs chainstitch sewing machine, circa 1890.

PHOTO GALLERY IN SEARCH OF LACE (below)

Mother and Daughter Mary and Elyse Salmon and colleagues Judy and Nancy traveling throughout Europe....IN SEARCH OF LACE....

Mother and Daughter, Mary and Elyse Salmon, and Judy Cogan.....American Women....IN SEARCH OF LACE

We traveled France, Holland, and precious Belgium this year 2018......watch for our upcoming articles in preparation for our book on the history and adventures IN SEARCH OF LACE 

PHOTO GALLERY IN SEARCH OF LACE (below)

Mother and Daughter Mary and Elyse Salmon and colleagues Judy and Nancy traveling throughout Europe....IN SEARCH OF LACE....

Paris, France; Brussels and Brugges, Belgium; Cantu and Milan, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Amsterdam...... 

(Calligraphy kindly provided by Belgian artist Calligrapher Yves Leterme, a professional calligrapher and lettering artist, ​living near the fair city of Bruges, Belgium).

The Lace Museum, Detroit: Proud Member of The International Organization of Lace, Inc., Great Lakes Lace Group Inc. and Kantcentrum Brugges, Belgium.

www.thelacemuseumllc.com        Curator: Mary Gen Salmon PH. 937. 681.7219  

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