The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
ROYAL B.4TTEyBERG LACE.
a Handsome Product OF American Ingenuity
with nm English Name.

'"h"
The royal Battenberg lace, which has gained
30 wide popularity since its first appearance q
few years ago, is a product of the modern school
Of laccmaking that owes its development to
American ingenuity. This American lace re.
ccived its English name because the first pieces
were perfected just at the time Of the Battenberg
~nuptials. Originally it was heavy, in some
cases massive; but at present many lighter
varieties are made, Though the genuine is al
ways too heavy for any purpose besides table or
altar decoration. 1t is in reality only the very
fine laces carried out in more vigorous, bolder
form, the braids and threads used in its manu-.
facturc being the largest used in lacemaking.
Lace makers in European coun tries are trained
to the work from childhood, and receive wages
on which the average American would starve.
But the costly point and Honiton and the dainty
Mechlin and valenciennes can be produced only
by these skilled workers. Besides, some of the
threads in the very flmy laces are so fine that
they cannot be successfully manipulated except
in a moist atmosphere, suck as that of Great
Britain and France. And even in these coun-
tries some OF the moro exquisite pieces must DO
made in damp cellars, since only there can the
proper degree Of moisture be obtained. In dry
climates these gossamerlike threads roughen
and break at almost the slightest touch. The
American modern lacemaking has so simple a
basis and Is so easy to learn that any woman of
average skill may with little instruction make
laces that are really magnificent, and quite as
substantial as they arc beautiful.
The materials required for the manufacture of
the Batten berg are neither numerous nor ex-
pensive. They are tracing cloth, leather or
toile circe, lace braids of the requisite sizes, linen
threads of proper texture, two or three sizes OF
needles, q good thimble, and a pair o. fine. sharp
scissors. For Battenbcrg the thread is in eight
sizes, the finest being used only for whipping
curves or drawing edges into the outlines re-
tracing cloth, should be basted when the braid
is arranged to a foundation Of leather or smooth
wrapping paper, to give the necessary support
The true beauty OF the work cannot be judged
until IL is finished and removed from the foun-
dation, as 1t is worked with the wrong side out.
One of tho most magnificent specimens of
royal Battenberg lace ia the border OF a tea
cloth which took n first prize al the Worlds Fair.
II is about a yard and n half square. and has a
centre of RICH, ivory.white satin. Tho border Is
of royal Battenberg lace, and is in grape design
with groups of buttons representing the clus-
tiers of grapes, while broad Battcnbcrg braid Is
used to outline the vines and leaves. A net
work of fine stitches fills in the leaves, while
the entire design is connected by Raleigh bars
and Battenbcrgc cord. Many OF the most elegant
sets of royal Battenberg have been sent to Eu-
rope as wedding. presents. One beautiful set
be but two solid gold dinner servicesin America,
and the table linen used with both is richly
ornamented with royal Battenberg lace. The
cloths belonging TO one OF these sets has a linen
square in the centre measuring only about
twelve inches to the side. The rest Of the cloth
is solid royal Battenbergi in a magnificent rose
vine design.