I visited Kensington Palace, in London, yesterday for the first time since its refurbishment. One of the four themes is, not surprisingly, Queen Victoria and her diamond jubilee - she lived there until she became queen (and seems to have hated the place...or at least her time there!). One section is a temporary exhibition, due to close on 4 November, focussing on the jubilee, but including the wedding flounce. This is a splendid unique piece of Honiton, displayed to show a couple of pattern repeats - very wide! - in a glass case with no nonsense, so easy to see and get as close as possible. Due to its fragility, it has not been on show for the last 30-odd years, so this is an opportunity not to miss. The design is superb, as is most of the workmanship, but it has got the typical Honiton marker of different people, it seems, doing different fillings, some rather badly! Of course, this does not spoil the general effect at all, just something for us makers to note. I did not notice the photo of Vicoria wearing it, then as an apron as it would no longer go all the way round her, taken at the wedding of George (later V) and Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary), but released for the diamond jubilee, but it may be there. It is in the guide book. In it, Victoria is holding a lace fan, which is displayed in the other part of the exhibition, as far as I remember, identified as Brussels (I didn't go back to check when I saw the other lace and then checked the guide book). Not such a good piece. The museum is well worth a visit in its own right. The entrance hall has a large modern piece of lace, very impressive, decorated with crystals and nicely illuminated. There is an entrance fee, so you would want to see more than just the lace if you're paying, but it is free to Art Fund members, so an ideal way of relaxing if you're visiting the shops in High Street Ken! [email protected], busy packing and winding bobbins for OIDFA
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