Evening star., 1909-04-25
NOTABLE EXHIBIT OF LACES
LOAN COLLECTION Is HISTORI.
CALLY ADEQUATE.
Gathered by Mrs. Pinchot With Aid
of Committee of interested Ladies.
Miss Morris Lecture.

Special attention has been caile within
the past few days to a remarkable loan
collection OF laces embroideries stuffs.
fans and the like on view at the National
Museum. both by an illustrated lecture
on laces given at the residence OF Mrs
Pinchot Friday by Miss Morris. assistant
to Mr.. Valentino. curator of decorative
arts at the Metropolitan Museum. New
York. and by a reception he'd in the ex-
hibition hall at the National Museum
yesterday afternoon.
This collection has been assembled by a
committee of ladies. under the direction
of Mrs. Pnchot. and may be said TO be
the NEST notable of it's kind ever shown
in this city. The work was begun about
year ago and is progressive.
The plan originated with Mrs. Pinchot,
who in 1877 was associated with Mrs.
Candace Wheeler in organizing the
Decorative Arts Society in New York and
the management of the Metropolitan
Museum. 1t was heartily approved. how
ever, by both Mr.. Walcott, secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution, and Mr..
Rathbun of the National Museum. and
splendid cooperation has been given.
Begun Last Spring.
Last spring certain quantity OF ma
terial was gathered to give substance.
as il were. to the movement. which in
reality looks toward the establishment of
q department, if not a museum. OF in
dustrial arts. During the entire winter,
however. additions and changes have been
made. until the entire character of the
collection has been altered
This has entailed tremendous amount
of work but it has been done so quietly
and systematically that it has scarcely
been remarked. Nor is it as yet by any
means completed. Those who have un-
dertaken the responsibility feel that but
a beginning has been nade-merely the
first step taken.
At present. naturally. space is extremely
limited. owing to the overcrowded condi-
tion of the museum building. which has
long since proved inadequate. But within
a comparatively short time the museum
building will be ready for occupancy.
Then better accommodation will be di-
rectly provided for this interesting de-
partment by those in authority
Collection Is Adequate.
1t would be impossible, save at great
length to give adequate description of
the collection which is now on view. SO
varied is it's character, SO comprehensive
it's nature. The laces alone form nota-
BILE exhibit and one well worthy of care
full, Independent study.
Miss Morris who is a recognized au-
thority on such matters, spoke with the
utmost enthusiasm Of the lace collection.
finding it comparable to the best. and in
regard to certain exhibits possibly su-
perior. One piece of lace at least, she
averred, was finer than anything which
the Metropolitan Museum, which has now
the greatest collection in the world could
boast
Indeed. the whole history of what might
be called the evolution of lace Is il
Illustrated in this collection. from the cut
and drawn work OF the fifteenth and six
teenth centuries to the exquisite needle
point and bobbin laces of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries. There are laces
from Italy and from Flanders, from
France, England and Spain, point
d'Venice suggesting bit of ivory carving
and point d'Argentan resembling filmy
cobweb. Every variety seems to be
shown and excellent examples given, so
that those wishing to pursue this fasci-
mating study may do so now at first
hand.
These laces have been loaned by Mrs.
Pinchct, Mrs. r. r. Hit, Mrs. Thomas
Nelson Page. Miss Trapier. Miss Goldman.
Mrs. Julian James Mrs Roosevelt Mrs.
Emmons. Edison Bradley. who. by the
way. has also loaned some magnificent
textiles and embroideries-and others,
each of whom has contributed extremely
choice specimens. The value OF such a
collection cannot be overestimated or the
Importance of the work thus inaugurated
be too strongly emphasized.