Abb. 1: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Portret van Mertijntje van Ceters
Abb. 2: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Panelen reticella samengevoegd tot een 'kraag' met twee akers
Abb. 3: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Kantmaakster
500 Years of Lace: A Journey Through Art and History
Welcome to lace.art.history
What began as a request for a talk has become a true passion for me: the cultural history of bobbin and needle lace. Following my involvement in the History Working Group of the German Bobbin Lace Association and my specialist articles for the association’s magazine *die Spitze*, this blog is now the logical next step in my journey.
Between Thread and History: Join me on a journey of discovery
Together, we will explore the development of this exquisite textile art from the 17th century to the present day. In the course of this evolution, lace has transformed from an exclusive status symbol of the European upper classes into a highly political economic commodity, undergoing a profound structural change in the wake of industrialisation.
Alongside the aesthetic aspects, the focus is primarily on the social and economic context. Over the long term, this series of posts will shed light on a wide variety of facets: the analyses range from historical dress codes and the actual working conditions of lace-makers, through smuggling, to the so-called ‘Lace War’.
The blog will continue to grow, constantly opening up new perspectives. You can look forward to posts on the teaching and training of craftsmanship, on the socio-cultural concerns of the rural aristocracy in the face of a labour exodus, and on the technological impact of the emerging machine-made lace on traditional handcrafts, and much more besides.
Abb. 4.:Photo: My own photograph
Broadening our horizons together
A vibrant blog thrives on interaction. If you have any questions, additions to historical sources or constructive suggestions, I would be delighted to hear from you.
I hope you find this a stimulating read and enjoy discovering this fascinating history of textiles!
Further insights on Instagram
On Instagram, I bridge the gap between cultural history and living craftsmanship. There, I regularly share photos of my handmade lacework or pictures from my visits to lace museums.
As this blog doesn’t have a newsletter, my social media profile is also the most direct way to stay up to date with all the latest articles. I’d love for us to connect and exchange ideas there too!
(This translation was produced using DeepL. If any errors have crept in or if any technical terms have been translated inaccurately, I would be very grateful for your feedback.)