#2610 $950
Hand-assembled Battenburg lace blouse, c.1905
Battenburg lace is the late 19th century term for lace designs made from braided tape. The technique, borrowed from 17th century hand-woven tape laces, again became popular with the introduction of machine made braided tapes.
With Battenburg lace, the shape of the garment is built in during the lace assembly, leaving no unsightly side seams. The linen fibers in the lace have a natural stiffness ideal for holding the shape. The crisp white style is particularly striking.
The highly textured, bold motifs, like those of Irish crochet lace, can be appreciated from a distance. Thus, complexity and richness is a high merit in the design. In most other styles, complex design motifs detract from the aesthetic effect.
The blouse features a high stand-up collar and longer-than-average, straight sleeves that cover the upper part of the hand. The blouse is cut longer and fuller in front and closes in back with small hooks. For another example of Battenburg lace, see this lace coat.
The design features a centripetal motif. Daisies join hands in a circle around an exquisite needlepoint "sunflower." The ultra-feminine floral pattern is worked with ivory cotton tapes connected by small "doughnuts" and by needle handwork.
Generally, one can categorize abstract and semi-abstract motifs as centripetal, centrifugal, or balanced, i.e., without a pronounced tendency to either of the first two. In this case, the schematic sunflower is the focal point of the centripetal design.
The condition is almost excellent. In the lace are several nicely done mends that do not spoil the appearance.
It measures: 36" bust, 14 1/2" from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, 29" sleeve length, 14" collar circumference at the base, 12" top collar circumference, 15 1/2" center-back length, and 16 1/2" center-front length.
