Alabaster strip of needle lace with hearts, goblets and baldachins

Strip of natural-coloured needle lace: point de France. It is half of an albe strip. The rich pattern consists of two symmetrical main motifs, built up from C-scrolls. One is heart-shaped and surrounded by playful curls. The other main motif has the shape of a vase or goblet, with a French lily at the top. Flower and leaf motifs occur, as well as architectural elements, including baldachins. The motifs are connected by a picoted mesh ground with irregular hexagons. Solid work with cut-outs and a rich variety of filler grounds. Relief contour lines are used especially to emphasize the C-scrolls and also various rosette flowers and circles. The scalloped edge is formed by alternating deeply cut palmettes and three or five-lobed motifs. The upper side is edged with a border of bobbin lace.