Italian Valli Varaita e Maira border

3.255" x 315" (8.25cm x 800.1cm)
Very Good condition. Small breaks and a little wear along the top edge. Needlelace repair 18" from the clean-cut end at the top. Isolated dark brown spots at 35" and 46" from the same end.
Looks like a heavy cotton, 2 ply S single Z. Intact threads on cut ends average 0.74mm, compressed in the weaving more like 0.5mm.

Recent research is indicating these heavy cotton laces probably originate in the Val Variata and Maira areas, and are freehand laces. The primary reference for these laces is "De Bères e d'escufie: Cuffie e merletti a fuselli della Valli Varaita Maira". The book does not show examples with the fan-like lower border, but it is dedicated to lace on headdresses, not more practical borders. This simple pattern is not illustrated in the book.

accession number 2011.1.086
first posted 11/06/2011
revised 07/04/2021
revised 12/14/2021 moved to Val Varaita e Maira