Belgian 'Venise' Border

8.3" x 122"
Excellent condition, looks unused. Note the plain metal tags attached with a ribbon at both ends, purpose unknown, although it is remarkable that the piece is ~10 feet long. One end appears original, the other looks cut.
Clothwork: Cotton, 2 ply S, Single Z, average 0.161 mm thread diameter.
Fillings and cordonnet: Cotton 2 ply S, Single Z, average 0.112 mm thread diameter. The cordonnet is an easily seen bundle of threads, sometimes loosely, sometimes tightly buttonholed over.

A high quality border of 'Venise' needlelace, although the widely spaced buttonholded cordonnet and the fine thread used in the fillings might indicate a Belgian origin. The filling stitches, when they don't have an overcast return, appear to be the typical Point de Gaze mesh pattern. The picots on the brides are small loops knotted at their base, not buttonholed like one may see in French or Italian pieces.
A symmetric 'candelabra' pattern repeats every 7.75", but there is asymmetry between the main vertical elements in a small area above a symmetric border motif and exending to the top. It's a curious design element, and is repeated without modification along the whole length.
Examining the back of this piece is quite interesting. It does not appear to have been made all in one piece, and you can see various elements sewn together. This is especially noticable along the cut end.

purchased 04/02/21
first posted 04/26/2021