I am glad that Arlene enjoyed the lace exhibit, Gems of European Lace: ca. 1600-1920 which will be closing on January 13. In answer to the question about lace being on display in museums, as Lace Study Editor of the Bulletin (International Organization of Lace) I always have my ear to the ground about sightings of lace in museums, and am eager to hear about them. There is lace on display at the Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum in Boston. Unfortunately it is positioned so far behind a velvet cord that it is hard to appreciate it, while other pieces are actually positioned in a case that you cannot see at all due to the cord. Isabella Stewart Gardiner left a very restrictive will that required the museum not change anything, which is probably why the lace is even on display. However, the museum was built in the early 20th century when, I suppose, you would allow visitors to go into tight little alcoves to look at lace. Now, that would be unmanageable from a crowd control aspect, so the lace is there, but the cord keeps you from seeing it. The Flagler has some very high quality lace on display which fills a small room. I admire them for putting it there. I think it must have been researched largely from books, as there are some minor things that I would argue about on the labels. But overall, a noble effort. It is nicely presented in high quality cases and you can really see it. It is accompanied by interesting story boards on the walls. Then there are the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale and the one at the Kliot store, Lacis. But one would have to already know one wanted to see lace to go there. It would not be a case of discovering it. As Karen says, there are conservation issues with light exposure. But you don't see the Smithsonian keeping the dresses of the First Ladies in storage to preserve them, and they are as fragile, if not more so, than the lace. I think the largest issue is that interest in various things in museums go in cycles, and lace has been out of fashion in curatorial circles in the US for a while. The 1920s was an era when no self respecting museum would be without a lace collection. But we have been in a prolonged downswing since then. It is no accident that the only lace on display in a non-lace museum occurs in one where the items on display haven't changed in a century (Isabella Stewart Gardiner) and one that glorifies the Gilded Age (Flagler). But, how does one create a new era of lace interest such as the 1920s when there is so little lace on display for people to become interested in? As my husband says, people wouldn't be interested in dinosaur bones if they were all kept in boxes, rather than mounted in the Natural History Museum. Many people have told me, in reference to the exhibit at the Met that they didn't know that lace could be like that. In fact, one of the most gratifying things has been to see younger people who are seeing museum quality lace for the first time and are amazed at the artistry and craftsmanship. It has been very enjoyable to see people viewing the exhibit and becoming excited about something they had never seen before. Arlene has raised some very interesting questions. Devon
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