Genoese border

3" x 47" (7.62cm x 119.38cm)

Good condition. Occasional fraying of vertical and horizontal support elements, localized repairs done with very fine thread. The loops formed when vertical or horizontal plaits turn around and head back into the lace on the edges of the work are often missing or damaged (this might have been due to the attachment of some kind of tassle at the lower vertical point). Some motifs are 'folded' probably stress from the very tight work. Occasional repair with very fine thread.
The ends are probably cut, and have been secured with a tiered needlelace edging.

Lace Thread: Linen, 2 Ply S, Single Z. Average 0.426mm, Standard Deviation 0.0513mm.

Genoese border with numerous leaves, reminiscent of Punto in Aria that copied Reticella, and is a finely done piece. The bobbin plaited engrelure looks more modern.
Ricci, "Old Italian Lace" has a few plates like this, #162 to #165, and plate #174. It seems to borrow more from the early Venetian bobbinlace technique, but those generally lack the woven leaves. It also has no carryover of threads between motifs (common in Genoese) and it appears that most motifs were attached separately to the plaited geometric base structure. It also lacks a different transitional dividing line between the upper part and the points.
This could be an example from the early 17th c.

purchased 06/15/2014
first posted 09/12/2004
revised 08/14/2021