LACE, TAPE, COLLAR

An intricate lady’s tape lace collar with a wide variety of hand stitched needlelace fillings, England, late 19th C.

The collar, square at back, tapers on the sides to the front. Abstract geometrical design outlined with narrow machine tape and shapes filled with hand stitching including buttonhole stitch, weaving and twisted brides (bars).

Since the 1600s hand-made lace, bobbin or needle, was an essential costume accessory for men and women. With the industrial revolution of mid 19th C, competition from machines led to a faster method to produce lace, using machine made tapes to outline design, tacked down on parchment then filled with needlelace fillings. Once complete the lace item was removed from the base. Making tape lace become popular with the availability of a wide variety of tapes and patterns and various names given Branscombe, Battenburg, Renaissance, Princess or Duchesse.