Valenciennes lace is a type of delicate and elegant bobbin lace that originated in the Valenciennes region of France in the 17th century. Using thread spools called bobbins, artisans skillfully manipulated very fine threads to weave floral and geometric patterns. It was especially loved by aristocrats and royalty from the 18th to 19th centuries, and was used for luxurious dresses and decorative items.
It is woven with very fine threads, and has few gaps throughout the lace, with continuous floral and geometric patterns beautifully applied. Due to its high technical difficulty and intricate detail, it is very expensive and is known as a historically important lace.
The steps below will be the same for other races, taking into account the historical background.
18th century lace was highly technical, elaborately handcrafted, and carried strong symbolic meaning within aristocratic society.
In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution led to the appearance of machine-made lace, and simpler, mass-produced designs became available. Floral and leafy patterns remained popular, but the decoration became more luxurious, and the variety of types and styles of lace expanded, becoming more popular among the general public and its uses became more widespread.
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Densely grained, from the 18th century |
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Valenciennes lace from the 19th century onwards, often used as decoration. |