CIRCA 19THC. RARE COMPOSITE LACE TABLECLOTH W/BRUSSELS LACE,MILANESE LACE,VALENCIENNE LACE. A ornate large round tablecloth measuring approx. 104-105". The tablecloth has it's original cream patina and seems either rarely used or even unused. It is quite a superb tablecloth with a wonderful assortment of fine laces and made with very light fine flax threads. There is Brussels lace, Valencienne laces, Milanese lace, Flemish laces, Point de Venise,Fine Duchesse laces, Brussels Applique,Mechlin and Lille and Buckingham lace. The amount of lace is quite amazing! There are large round vignettes animals which actually might have become extinct.This tablelcoth came from a very rare and unusual collection. The tablecloths in this collection all have elaborate work, some have different animals and others have assorted birds in the design. I believe they must have been commissioned by someone who was involved with a museum or someone who was very interested in Natural History During the late 18-19th centuries and also in the early part of 1900's, there was a expansion of exploration and travel throughout the world. There were many academic societies and there were many private associations who sponsored these explorations. Some of the cloths in this collection were made especially for this collector.The collection must have been kept together and then finally made its way into this one particular collection we are selling. The last picture shows a dark spot, this is due to a fault in the background when we took the photos.
Item #AL1279
