LACE, BOBBIN, HONITON, EDGING

This fine handmade bobbin lace edging, created in Honiton, Devon, in the late 19th century, is an exquisite example of traditional English lace craftsmanship. Measuring 860 x 60 mm, the lace features a repeating series of delicately worked motifs — known as “sprigs” — depicting flowers, leaves, and elegant scrolls.

Each sprig was individually crafted using extremely fine thread, then joined with brides (connecting bars) decorated with tiny looped picots. The refined execution and decorative complexity suggest it was intended for high-end garments or accessories — perhaps a collar, bonnet, or flounce worn by the fashionable elite of the time.

Honiton lace was made as a cottage industry in East Devon, where women and children produced lace at home, selling or trading their work through a network of local merchants. Its popularity surged in the 19th century, bolstered by royal patronage — Queen Victoria famously chose Honiton lace for her wedding veil and her children’s christening robe.

Though the arrival of machine-made net and lace in the 19th century challenged traditional handwork, examples like this remind us of the extraordinary skill, artistry, and labour that defined the Honiton lace tradition.