Dear Lacefriends,
Just back from an exciting lace-travel for me and some other things for
DP from France I'll try to send you my experiences.
First I was invited by a lace-friend to see her collection of lace
pillows. This was near Cologne in Germany. After that we took our way
to Caen. There we had a room with the window to the race court. There
wasn't a race but we saw the training one morning.
The next day we went to Bayeux. A lovely old town with a huge
cathedreal and nearby the Musée Baron Gérard which is actually closed
till 2010 for renovation. But parts of it house on the other side of
the cathedreal in another old and lovely house. In several glass
vitrines beautiful laces. A big part from the collection of this Baron
Gérard born in 1770, his mother was Italiennne and his father French
(like yesterday evening). He lives most of its lifetime in Rome as a
diplomate. So most of its laces are from the time 1830 till 1880 and
made in the manufacture of Auguste Lefébure. One of the brothers
Lefèbure from Belgique, Grammont. And are Blonde or Chantilly-lace.
To start at the beginning, in this region lacemaking is known since
1650 and tilll French revolution mostly in so called Hôtel-Dieu or
Couvent de la Charité. What means under church care. Still under Louis
XIV Colbert formed manufacturies.
Around 1830 there were 15 000 people making lace for their living. In
1829 August Lefébure opend his manufature. And in 1891 the big crash
was there too after the machines were able to imitate Chantilly-lace,
so that at that time there were no more than 72 lacemakers.
In one of the vitrines you can see the original painting of The
lacemaker from Penrose. In other ones laces in Torchon technique done
in cotton only for underwear. And laces for bonnets from the time
between 1860 and 1900. And a lot of other lace pieces in different lace
techniques. And a few of these original designs for this huge shawls.
It was a real pleasure.
Next point, the manufacture. There also wonderful old laces are to seen
but also some very modern ones. One of them this famous evening-dress
whose whole upper part is done in lace for the house of Pierre Balmain
a few ears ago. You can buy there silk, by the way this one some of you
are looking for for an IOLI-class, also lovely bobbins, small books
with patterns.
nearby is a shop selling old "handmade" lace and other things. Very
expensive and not all handmade if I am right.
Than down the center the Tapestery of Bayeux. You know this famous
embroidered tapestery on which the live of Guillaume-le Conquérant is
shown. It's a must it's breathtaking believe me.
DP is hungry and if I am honest I too so I must stop here for today.
Greetings
Ilske
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