Bedfordshire Lace
BEDFORDSHIRE lace was made not only in Bedfordshire but also in the other counties of the East Midlands lacemaking area, Buckingham-shire and Northamptonshire. It was developed around the middle of the nineteenth century and was inspired by earlier seventeenth century laces, but soon developed features of its own. Some of the finer pieces, particularly those designed by Thomas Lester, even borrowed from Honiton lace. It is a straight lace and the pattern motifs are usually joined with bars of plaited threads.
This collar from the Lace Guild collection (AVC.118.2005) is a traditional design. It features leaves with veins, raised tallies and a scalloped nine-pin edge.