Dear Karen, Jeri, fellow Arachnids, Sorry to enter this discussion late in the game. But I have just returned from Italy where I have been looking into some late 19th and early 20th century lace enterprises. One thing that is striking me is that lace production continued much farther into the 20th century than I would have thought. I am wondering if this piece may have been made as late as the 1930s or even as late as the 1960s. Looking at other laces produced in the 1930s might be illuminating. They have a sort of 1930s look to them, call it Art Deco. The Italian ones have sort of the look of the art being produced during the Mussolini period which I think this piece may resemble. Also, the theme is one that celebrates militarism, which was popular at the time. When I visited Bruges a few years ago, I saw some war lace with medieval soldiers on it, and it was explained to me that during WWI such themes were very popular. I guess that is the way with wars. So, maybe the date could be from WWI. I think that the work is somewhat coarse suggesting to me a later rather than an earlier date. But, then again, for such a big piece, and one intended for use, maybe coarse is the norm. Who would have made the piece and for whom? One obvious place to look is in Bayeux for a producer who was producing lace for tourists. In Venice, I am convinced that a lot of the themes chosen were ones intended to please tourists and remind them of their visit to Venice, ie. landmarks, Venetian themes. Likewise, whenever I visit Bayeux there are a lot of Bayeux Tapestry souvenirs. When did the Bayeux based enterprises that were in the LeFebure family cease to exist? Might there have been an impetus to produce such an item for sale to Americans involved in WWII's Normandy invasion, or post invasion activities, as Bayeux is located right near the landing beaches, and the runner was bought at auction in America? I have just obtained a book published by the Burano Lace School. Here is an interesting quote. "The school album-sample book has some marvelous yellowing photographs ...There are some quite remarkable tablecloths reproducing paintings such as those by Tintoretto and Veronese on the ceiling in the Sala dei Pregadi in the Ducal Palace (Dona dalle Rose), or by gallant 18th century French artists, such as Boucher and Fragonard (de Guzman)." Since the Burano Lace School was reproducing not only Venetian themes, but apparently French ones as well, perhaps Karen could inquire about this sample book. Devon in the New York Metro area where it is still possible to see "Gems of European Lace, ca. 1600-1920" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Ratti Gallery as it will close January 13, 2013.
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