This auction is for 4 feet of antique handmade lace.

The thread seems to be fine mercerized cotton.
The lace is white (off-white) due to age and measures 50 inches.
One end has been hemmed to protect it from fraying.
The other end is probably the selvage or where the handwork was “turned”.
While there are some irregularities from being handmade, this piece does not twist or curve, and the width is uniform.
It appears to be unused.

The lace was photographed on a small (5 ¼”) plate for contrast to show detail. Difficult to describe, but a lovely piece of handiwork.

This is an intriguing piece of Americana. I thought at first it had been tatted or crocheted. It may be Battenberg style woven and thread wrapped on a mini-loom. It may be a combination of the three. There were many methods used to make lace. It gives all new appreciation of the concept of “straight laced” due to the complexity and quality of the piece.

I live in a rural area with a marked German influence. I can not guarantee it, but would not be surprised if it had been made by hand locally.

It may be a small piece, but you may never find a better example. If you are looking for a period piece of trim for doll cloths or costumes, this may be exactly what you need to put the special finishing touch on your project.

The lace is old and has been stored for a while. It would benefit from a gentle rinse before using. The item was acquired from local estate sale.