Antique Lace, English and Irish Examples: An extremely fine 19th century Honiton bobbin lace lappet with Provenance, see note below. The unused lappet, the colour original, is worked with tiny motifs, being various flower heads and veined leaves, applied to machine net, each rounded end is applied with a primula plant motif. The sides and ends are finished with a floral border. Approx. 41 inches or 104cm by 3.25 inches or 8cm; A fragment of Bedfordshire lace with wheatears; a good Bedfordshire lace lappet with narrow central panel and much wider ends, worked with wheatears and raised detail. Approx. 30 inches or 76.5cm; another two lappets of similar lace, different detail; a good lappet of Irish Needle lace, Youghal, worked with flowers and leaves, the narrow central panel with wider, rounded ends. Original thread colour. Approx. 33.75 inches or 86cm. Finally, another Youghal Lace lappet, the centre narrower than the other example, rounded ends. Approx 34 inches or 87cm (7).
The Honiton lappet was purchased many years ago when the lace collection of the late Lady Margaret Gretton, of Stapleford Park, Leicestershire and lastly The Old rectory, Ufford, came up for auction. It was held within the Gretton family that Mrs John Gretton, who died in 1891, was so interested in lace and textiles that she purchased the entire stock of a lace dealer. This may be borne out by the fact that at auction, some items still retained measurements and prices and occasionally a trade label of Mrs JT Tucker and Sons, Exeter. Some lace books do mention this retailer. The auction in question (which I attended), was a treat for lace dealers and collectors, wonderful, unused items, and high prices realised.