New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17

marvellous exactude the patterns OF the OLD lace
makers Many celebrated pieces which have de-
scended from the seventeenth century are sent 10
this factory at Venice, where they are exactly
copied and worn In place Of the originals which
repose In glass-covered cases. Another lace Tor
which the popular Queen responsible is called the
point Margherta. 1t Is extremely hgnt ana deH-
cate and artistic in pattern. Ii IS generany useu
for apron- fronts or to form whole skirts to be
hung over shimmering satin. 1t is not very eN-
pensve for s25 Will buy a very beautiful apron
front
oueen Victoria made the beautiful Irish Honiton
the mode when she became a bride. Before that
time the homemade industry had been overshad-
owed by the for the Dutch ana Italian laces'
but the young Queen ordered her bridal veil from
the Honiton establishment The pattern was lnime-
diately destroyed, and it proved to be the most
beautiful bridal veil ever known. There Il no lace
that falls as gracefully takes such lovely deHcae
folds as does the Honiton. 1t remains the iaVori'e
lace with the English royal family and the proper
bridal veil for all English women
For many years there vas 4 famous so-cdii"i
English lace the point dAngleterre The first laces
worn in England were entirely foreign made, ana
Parliament wishing 10 protect tne home Industry
laid a heavy duty on foreign aces, and hnasy en-
tlrely prohibited their importation Inc dealers
brought over lace workers from Holland IN large
numbers but the thread used IN England was IN
feror and the foreign workers did not thrive urder
rngl,s, skies so the smuggling went on. winked at
h, the court II not by Parliament. brussels lace
became fashionable craze: fortunes were spent on
II: II was put up stakes on gambling tables by
fair owners but it always passed under the patri-
otto name Of point d'Angleterre.
There are practically no fine handmade laces
made in France to-day although many OF the Bel
GUM laces such as the Nalenclennes, pass under
TO head Of French aces Even the point d Allen
con for so many years the French court lace Is
now made in Italy. generally in Venice that great
lace-making centre.
The history of French laces is rather interesting.
Indeed so is the history OF all laces. There are
erl nretty stories told OF its origin but 1t prob
ablv grew from the marvellous embroideries that
were made in the converts during the carry part
OF the Middle Ages. There are lace hounces in the
portraits by the artists OF the hftenth century
and Forentine poet in 1870 writes a sonnet to his
mistress's lace collar but the exact date OF the
invention Of is unknown. The Oldest lace that
No know to-day is the point de Venise, and 1t Is
the lace highest in favor now
As In England. the importation OF lace was al
one time Prohibited In France. and under Louis
XIV some lace makers were brought from Burano
,o teach young French girls the famous rose
point Of Italy These girls were selected lace
workers the best that the French provinces pro-
vidcd: but II difficult task to teach thein
the Italian stitch. Finally the stitch was modified
a compromise being made. and the result was the
heavy rich and decorative lace called the point
XIV; the royal lit draped with It; the royal
babes became Christians smothered In Its heavy
folds it adorned the coronation robes OF queens
and hid the bushes OF royal brides. on one &C.
cas,on. after week Of fetes at Marty. the gallant
Louis presented each lady OF the court with
dressing robe OF the royal lace. few OF these are
stir intact. and proudly displayed as priceless
helrlooms to-day.
This lace remalned in vogue during the next
rein under the frivolous sway Of la Pompadour
and Dubarry but went out Of favor with Marie
Antoinette 1t was too heavy. too serious: II
sroacked too much OF pompous court ceremonias to
And favor in the eyes OF the young Queen. whose
tastes were always for the delicate, graceful and
simple fabrics She much preferred the effect OF
soft null and embroidered musl!ns. and she
brough, into fashion the cobwebke ChantIy iaees
Then came the Reign OF Terror, and aeemaKers
as the servants Of the arstocrats were persecuteo
banished and in many executed on the
guillotlne French lace-making received DO"
then from which II has yet fully recovered
To-day the fashionable laces are the point de
Venise. the point dAlencon and me NaIehcehhes'
The first two are made In Venice, as are most OF
the expensive aces In vogue to-day. There are sew
eral varieties Of the Venice point and a wide va
riety OF prices \ nounce eight inches deep may be
| bought for s. yard. or the price may run up 10
$500 or 500 a yard. | quoting Paris prices They
are cheaper naturally in Italy and the extra duty
| in America. together with the risk ana cost OF i'm
portailon make these laces somewhat higher there.
4 beautiful variety OF the Venice lace Is called
| the mosaic" The flowers. bouquets or tiny de-
signs are separately first. and then arranged
! in the IL form deeD nounce. These Iaees arc