CARRICKMACROSS, HANDKERCHIEF

Carrickmacross Lace Handkerchief with Butterfly and Owl Motifs, 1981

This exquisite Carrickmacross lace handkerchief was hand-stitched and purchased in 1981 by the donor at a convent in Ireland. Crafted using the traditional Carrickmacross technique — where organdy or similar fabric is appliquéd to net and detailed with couched thread, cutwork, and intricate needlerun stitches — the design features butterflies in opposite corners, a floral spray, and an owl.

Notable decorative elements include:

• Pops: Tiny buttonholed circles scattered across the net
• Twirls: Circular thread motifs couched to the edges

Carrickmacross lace originated around 1820 in Donaghmoyne near Carrickmacross, Ireland, introduced by Mrs Grey Porter and her maid Ann Steadman. Based on Italian appliqué lace, it provided income for rural Irish women. After a post-Famine revival in the late 19th century, nuns at the St Louis Convent re-established the tradition, training girls in this delicate art form until WWI.