Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-24
OF LACES
Rare Collection Placed in the
National Museum.
DISPLAY AN ATTRACTION
Textiles Loaned by Mrs. James w.
Pinchot and Others.
ARTICLES OF GREAT VALUE
Superb Brussels Point Lace Once
Owned by Ill-Starred Princess
Carlotta Recalled.
BY WILLIAM r.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS
| Written for The Star and the. Chicago Record
| Herald.
/ The people of the capita, and the nation
at large are indebted to Mrs. James w.
structive exhibition of laces and other
art textiles now to be seen in the Ma
tional Museum. The larger part of the
collection is loaned by Mrs Pinchot her.
self, and other we'll known ladies of
| Washington have contributed from their
trea sures to make the display attractive
and complete. Mrs Roosevelt left a fan
| and a curious handkerchief. made of the
pima fore, which was sent her from the
Philippines. Most of the exhibits are
| loans but their presence in the National
| Museum is perpetual reminder and in
vitation to people who possess such
things to contribute them to the general
welfare.
During the last summer Mrs. Pinchot
| made an unusually fine collection of diff
ferent kinds of iaces and presented them
to the museum Mrs. Whitelaw Reid gave
| some unique specimens, and the other day
there was received from Miss Anna r.
Fairchild collection of seven fans and
twelve examples of laces which had been
bcqueathed to her by her aunt, Miss
Julia 8. BRYANT. daughter Of William Gull
len Bryant, the poet. Miss Fdirchild
formerly lived in New York but is now
residing in Paris, and she has generously
presented this collection to the people of
the United States. The laces have never
perfect preservation and were made
mostly before the seventeenth century.
List of. the Pieces.
The following is. the list, with the
length of each piece: Burano, 400 me-
tiers in length: MaIine, 1.sO meters:
| Guipure de Maline, $50 meters; old
Flemish, 1856 meters: Mechlin, ground
ing early Valenciennes. $50 meters !;
Alencon, 2.07 meters; Point de Rose dc
Venice 1:'o meters: Point de Rose de
meters: Flandre-Flounce, $3.50 meters;
Point d Angleterre, $50 meters; Binche
or Maline. Jabot.
To increase the educational value Of
the collection Mrs. Pinc1ot arranged a
series of lectures which have been de-
liveIed at her house on the Saturdays
expert of the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in New York. The topics were
"Needlework- of the italian -Renais-
sance." The Needle Point and Bobbin
and English Laces." The lectures were
| illustrated by lantern slides showing
designs H;c, of r the sng En1sh
laces referred to, and were attended by
a large circle OF washington ladies'
| who are interested in such subjects.
| This is not the first exhibit of laces
which Mrs. Pinchot has made She was
largely instrumental in building. up that
which makes the Metropolitan Museum
things in this country. In addition to
the large number and great variety Of
| laces and other textiles she has con-
toric relics and painted and embroid-
French and Flemish schools.
In one OF her cases is an exquisite
sen by order of Frederick VII of Dem
mark as a wedding present for one of
his princesses, and replica of By
mar Margarita, Queen Of Denmark, who
died In 1912. She is the most revered
of all the Danish queens. A similar
replica was made as wedding gift for
her marriage to the Prince OF Wales,
who is now King Edward of England.
When the Collection Was Begun.
Richard Rathbun, curator of the Ma
tional Museum, said: The loan cOllec-
ton of lace and other art textiles was
begun in May, 1908, by Mrs. James
w. Pinchot, with The assistance OF sew
eral other ladies, and it's importance
valuable additions. Mrs. Pinchot has
continued her interest and enthusiasm.
| She has visited the museum almost
every day to look after the collections
| and has made one of the most at
tractive in the country. The only col
| lections which exceed it in variety and
value, are in the Metropolitan Museum
| of Art in New York. and the Boston
Museum of Fine Arts. The collection
| is now displayed in twenty-four cases.
! to other art fabrics, four to porcelains.
two TO enamels, two to fans ane numer-
| Gus examples of silverware, jeweiry and
| carving.
the units Of this exhibit have changed
! from time TO time. but it's character,
on the whole, has not materially altered.
| Throughout the year many beautiful
| fans have been on view with the laces.
Many have been in themselves works
of art, daintily and exquisitely fash
toned with carved pearl and ivory sticks,
and painted and embroidered pictures
works by master artists and craftsmen. A
great variety of design has been noted
! and excellent taste In the selection OF
material The majority of the fans
shown have been lent by Mrs. Pinchot,
| who has also kindly contributed from
her private collection twenty exceedingly
interesting miniatures IN Limoges
enamel.
Less Numerous, But Choice.
THE woven fabrics have been less
numerous, but very choice, adding wei
come note of color and establishing
| standard for acquisition. Mr.. Edison Brad
lev and Mrs II. kirke Porter have both
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