White Chantilly sock inserts

each ~15.5" long, 2-7/8" max width.
Isolated pinholes in the mesh, occasional small hole. Lefthand piece has a damaged edge about 1/3rd of the way from the top right endge. These pieces may have never been used.

These are probably stocking inserts which have been removed from the original socks - there is the occasional fluffy cotton thread along the border. Black Chantilly sock inserts come up occasionally in the same long oval form, but a white Chantilly pair is very rare. The Point de Gaze butterflies and flowers at the ends appear to be a much later addition - they are attached with a running stitch with coarse thread. These needlelace elements are more commonly associated with samples given out by lace shops in the mid 20th century - the main pieces are earlier. The halfstitch used in all solid elements is indicative of Belgian Chantilly, as is the cotton thread. There is an unusual knotted thread along the outsides of the tops of both pieces - these might be a means of adding threads as the pieces widen.
The peacock design is elegant and well done.

purchased 07/21/2020
first posted 08/18/2020