Alençon lace

French dress
MFA# 59.649a

Description

A delicate needlepoint lace originally manufactured in the city of Alençon in northwest France. Alençon lace has solid, flowery designs outlined with a twisted yarn. The lace usually has a delicate, hexagonal mesh background and is 36 inches wide with one edge scalloped. Machine reproductions of Alençon lace have been made since the mid-19th century.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Alencon lace; point d'Alencon; encaje de Alencon (Esp.); Alencon kant (Ned)

Comparisons

Common Types of Lace

Resources and Citations

• Rosalie Rosso King, Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation, Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985

• Edward Reich, Carlton J. Siegler, Consumer Goods: How to Know and Use Them, American Book Company, New York City, 1937