If you landed here it’s because you’re curious about Flemish lace: Bruges, Brussels and the European golden age. I’ll tell you what I know, no rush.
What we do for pleasure today was, for a long time, the livelihood of entire villages. That should not be forgotten If you fancy, I’ll leave Origins of bobbin lace.
Each European region has its own grammar. What Flanders calls one thing, we call another. They don’t always match, and that’s fine.
Where it comes from¶
- 16th c.: Flemish workshops export across Europe.
- Diplomatic currency, luxury regulated by sumptuary laws.
- Bruges, Brussels, Mechelen, Valenciennes: own styles.
How it changed¶
- Bruges: floral roundness with very fine mesh.
- Mechelen: thick-thread design, light ground.
- Valenciennes: characteristic diamond mesh.
How we live it today¶
- Today in museums like Bruges’ Kantcentrum.
- Belgian and French official schools still teach.
Nearby¶
- Origins of bobbin lace: from the 15th century to today
- When a lace cuff cost as much as a house
- Intermediate lace with fine wool: how to refine
Nothing more for today. The folks at Encaixe have courses and materials; whenever you fancy going in-person, they’ll treat you well.