Binche lace
Encyclopedia
Binche lace is a Flemish bobbin lace
that originated in Binche
, Belgium. It is continuous, meaning it is made all at once, in one piece. It is generally made in strips 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Though typically it has no cordonnet outlining the design against the ground, occasional pieces are made with a very fine one, about the same thickness as the thread used in the pattern. The pattern in Binche lace is very detailed, with animal scenes and figures.
Binche lace is sometimes known as "Fairy lace".
with Mary of Burgundy
, however there is no proof for this theory. However, Binche lace was being made by the end of the 16th century. In 1585, when the river Scheldt
was closed to shipping, Binche did not suffer a decline in its lacemaking as did Antwerp lace
, which was made nearby. Binche lace was the subject of a royal edict in 1686, which implies that the lace must have been fairly important. The heyday of Binche lace was in the 18th century, when it was popular in Parisian circles. It began to die out at the end of the 18th century, and was not made much during or after the 19th century. In 1862 Victor Hugo
mentioned Binche lace as the material of Cosette's wedding gown in Les Misérables
, as he remembered it from his youth as being a lace of great beauty. The quality of Binche lace declined at the end of the 18th century, with the lace becoming coarser and the patterns less detailed. Originally Binche lace resembled Valenciennes lace
.
In the 20th century there was another lace called Binche lace, that consisted of bobbin-made patterns sewn onto machine-made net, like Brussels lace
. However, it was of inferior quality, and thus was never very common.
Bobbin lace
Bobbin lace is a lace textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of thread, which are wound on bobbins to manage them. As the work progresses, the weaving is held in place with pins set in a lace pillow, the placement of the pins usually determined by a pattern or pricking pinned on the...
that originated in Binche
Binche
Binche is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Binche had a total population of 32,409. The total area is 60.66 km² which gives a population density of 534 inhabitants per km²...
, Belgium. It is continuous, meaning it is made all at once, in one piece. It is generally made in strips 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Though typically it has no cordonnet outlining the design against the ground, occasional pieces are made with a very fine one, about the same thickness as the thread used in the pattern. The pattern in Binche lace is very detailed, with animal scenes and figures.
Binche lace is sometimes known as "Fairy lace".
History
Tradition says that Binche lace was started in the 15th century by lacemakers that moved to Binche from GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
with Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy ruled the Burgundian territories in Low Countries and was suo jure Duchess of Burgundy from 1477 until her death...
, however there is no proof for this theory. However, Binche lace was being made by the end of the 16th century. In 1585, when the river Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
was closed to shipping, Binche did not suffer a decline in its lacemaking as did Antwerp lace
Antwerp lace
Antwerp lace, is a bobbin lace distinguished by stylized flower pot motifs on a six point star ground. It originated in Antwerp, where in the 17th century an estimated 50% of the population of Antwerp was involved in lace making. Antwerp lace is also known, from its familiar repeated motif, as Pot...
, which was made nearby. Binche lace was the subject of a royal edict in 1686, which implies that the lace must have been fairly important. The heyday of Binche lace was in the 18th century, when it was popular in Parisian circles. It began to die out at the end of the 18th century, and was not made much during or after the 19th century. In 1862 Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
mentioned Binche lace as the material of Cosette's wedding gown in Les Misérables
Les Misérables
Les Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
, as he remembered it from his youth as being a lace of great beauty. The quality of Binche lace declined at the end of the 18th century, with the lace becoming coarser and the patterns less detailed. Originally Binche lace resembled Valenciennes lace
Valenciennes lace
Valenciennes lace is a type of bobbin lace which originated in Valenciennes, in the Nord département of France, and flourished from about 1705 to 1780. Later production moved to Belgium in and around Ypres. The industry continued onto the 19th century on a diminished scale...
.
In the 20th century there was another lace called Binche lace, that consisted of bobbin-made patterns sewn onto machine-made net, like Brussels lace
Brussels lace
Brussels lace is a type of pillow lace that originated in and around Brussels. The term "Brussels lace" has been broadly used for any lace from Brussels, however the term strictly interpreted refers to bobbin lace, in which the pattern is made first, then the ground, or réseau, added, also using...
. However, it was of inferior quality, and thus was never very common.