Nathalie Those photos are very interesting. There are a number of things I can say, but I can't give you a place or time with any confidence.
This page on my website has some which may be pottenkant. That form was made not only with Paris ground, but sometimes with Flanders ground, torchon ground, or others. http://lynxlace.com/bobbinlacepottenkantmilanese.html The first one on this page, #33, has torchon ground with figural motifs, instead of the usual geometric. I have been baffled by that piece since I first saw it, in Elizabeth Kurella's collection. http://lynxlace.com/bobbinlace18th.html Mechlin ground, after all, is torchon Brussels ground without the pin in the middle. I also have 2 books of Russian embroidery and lace, and I looked through them. There was a lot of figural torchon made in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the animal motifs and plant forms were heavily stylized, in a manner similar to their cross stitch embroideries. The figures in your piece are much more naturalistic. And they are reminiscent of some modern Paris lace that I have seen, in which hunting scenes and naturalistic animals and plants are prominent. http://lynxlace.com/images/lace32.jpg But Paris laces have the clothwork made differently than in torchon. So perhaps that isn't relevant. I've been collecting photos of figural torchon laces, but haven't found very many, and none are like the piece you refer to. https://www.pinterest.com/lynxlacelady/torchon-floral-figural-lace/ So, lots of words, about possibly related laces, which have some similarities, but not enough to declare identity. So my answer is basically, I don't know. But it has been a fun journey. Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
