BINCHE BOBBIN LACE

Binche bobbin lace comes from a Belgian town of the same name which is located in Southern Belgium by the French border. Records show that lace production in Binche started as early as the 16th century if not earlier. Production reached its heyday in the 18th century when Binche lace became popular all over France. It is even mentioned in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Production stopped in the 19th century and efforts to revive it in the 20th century yielded inferior quality.

Binche lace is often called Fairy Lace. It is continuous, made all at once in one piece. It is very detailed with animals and human figures. This piece shows four figures in big voluminous skirts, shawls and pointed hats, with eyes, noses and skirt patterns all worked in.