Saturday 14 October 2006

Venue : The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham
Subject: 'FINE & FASHIONABLE' - Lace from The Blackborne Collection

To coincide with Bowes' current exhibition, a study day was arranged with the main Costume Society.

This is a major lace exhibition based on the surviving stock, study collections and documentary material of the lace dealers, A Blackborne & Co. Anthony Blackborne (1824-1878), the father and Arthur Blackborne (1856-1952), his son, built up a thriving business, which was in the forefront of the growing trade in antique lace. Their deep knowledge and the rarity of many of the pieces they acquired, earned the Blackborne Collection worldwide recognition and it remains one of the most important in the World. There are a number of complete costume items, including a man’s collar, c.1630 and a blonde lace dress, c.1820. A superb collection of lappets illustrates designs and techniques from the 1690’s to the 1890’s.

The exhibition’s two curators, Santina Levey and Joanna Hashagen, each offered us their expertise and a lace-making demonstration was planned for the afternoon.

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