Brussels lace

Brussels lace
1. a fine handmade lace in a floral pattern outlined with raised cordonnet, originally made in the area of Brussels.
2. a modern machine-made net lace on which floral designs are appliquéd.
[1740-50]

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 lace made in Brussels from the second half of the 17th century, when much of it was imported clandestinely to England and sold there under the name of point d'Angleterre (see Angleterre). This bobbin lace had a characteristic mesh, a hexagon with four twisted sides and two sides plaited four times, though the design was sometimes joined by a background of bars, or brides, or a background of both bars and mesh. The thread, from local Brabant flax, was of high quality. An expensive lace, it was much used at court. Brussels lace was famous for its bold and sweeping floral and plant designs, which formed large serpentine curves on pieces used to adorn clothing. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, figures in narrative scenes were set in a naturalistic surrounding, giving the whole a closely wrought allover effect.

      By the mid-18th century the lace's production was divided among specialists, each charged with one stage of the work. Toward 1800 the motifs of the design (sometimes bobbin-made, sometimes needle-made) were being worked separately and applied to bobbin net and, after 1820, to machine net. Needle lace was made from 1720 in imitation of Alençon; needle lace had another revival after 1851 in “gauze lace.” From 1840 a rather crude, mostly bobbin-made lace called duchesse lace was made.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Brussels lace — Brussels Brus sels, n. A city of Belgium, giving its name to a kind of carpet, a kind of lace, etc. [1913 Webster] {Brussels carpet}, a kind of carpet made of worsted yarn fixed in a foundation web of strong linen thread. The worsted, which alone …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brussels lace — Lace Lace (l[=a]s), n. [OE. las, OF. laz, F. lacs, dim. lacet, fr. L. laqueus noose, snare; prob. akin to lacere to entice. Cf. {Delight}, {Elicit}, {Lasso}, {Latchet}.] 1. That which binds or holds, especially by being interwoven; a string, cord …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brussels lace — n. [after BRUSSELS, where orig. made] 1. Historical a bobbin or needlepoint lace with a raised design 2. a machine made lace with an appliquéd design …   English World dictionary

  • Brussels lace — Brus′sels lace′ n. 1) tex a fine handmade lace in a floral pattern outlined with raised cordonnet, orig. made in the area of Brussels 2) tex a modern machine made lace with appliquéd floral designs • Etymology: 1740–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • Brussels lace — variety of lace which is manufactured in Brussels …   English contemporary dictionary

  • brussels lace — /brʌsəlz ˈleɪs/ (say brusuhlz lays) noun any of various types of hand made lace both needle point and bobbin, produced in various parts of Belgium, notably in the 19th century; often with raised or appliqué design {originally from Brussels} …  

  • Brussels lace — noun an elaborate kind of lace, typically with a raised design …   English new terms dictionary

  • Brussels lace — n. an elaborate needlepoint or pillow lace …   Useful english dictionary

  • Brussels lace — noun Date: 1732 1. any of various fine needlepoint or bobbin laces with floral designs made originally in or near Brussels 2. a machine made net of hexagonal mesh …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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