http://tinyurl.com/zrfozzd Vintage Antique Stitched Lace Collar (a)
Size: 17″ long, 14″ wide laid flat
Starting Price: $17.99 Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 4:22 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller heylookasquirrel, Crofton,Maryland, United States
Comments: An interesting Maltese collar. Plaited neckline, alternating crosses and flowers on outside edge. Inside is an unusual ground with some nice guipure work of leaves and flowers.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: early 20th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Might be a separation near upper left point.
Soilage: Looks clean.
Finish: Overall wrinkling.

   Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/zsyhjoq A Stunning Extra Large Handmade Irish Crochet Handkerchief Circa 1890
http://tinyurl.com/jajdp5a A Fine Elegant Handmade Irish Crochet Wedding Handkerchief C. 1900
Size: 40 cm square, lace is 7.5 cm deep.
30 cm square
Starting Price: £48.00, £26.00
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 10:40 AM PST
December 27, 2015, 2015, 9:55 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller winterwonderlandfairy, london, United Kingdom
Comments: Handkerchiefs edged with Irish crochet are rare, especially ones with large motifs. It’s just a bit heavy for a handkerchief. The first one has rather flat undecorated motifs with low profile raised work. The picoted brides include a few early knotted guipure motifs.  Interesting piece.
The second one has an early knotted guipure design.  Looking at the join to the cloth, I’m not sure this is an original piece, but you’d have to look very closely to really tell. Here the lightness of lace is more appropriate to a handkerchief.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 3rd quarter 19th c
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Nothing obvious from the photos on either.
Soilage: Both look clean.
Finish: 1st – Horizontal fold creases, center cloth a little creased.
2nd – Horizontal and vertical fold creases.

  Sold for £86.45, 2 bidders.
   Sold for £ 26.00, 2 bidders.

http://tinyurl.com/pha8t93 Antique/vintage Carrickmacross guipure lace collar
Size: 36″ neckline, 5.5″ back depth.
Starting Price: £35.00
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 9:50 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller derbeatle, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Comments: A Carrickmacross guipure dress front. Typical circular picots on the edges, and note the spiked picots in the brides (sign of better manufacture).  Also some good grids of rings used as fillings. Overall design is a bit naive, I’m not sure I like the combination of very large and very small motifs. But overall, a nice example.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Occasional separation of the muslin from the outline thread.
Soilage: Seller cites mid ivory color.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

      Sold for £35.00, 1 bidder.

http://tinyurl.com/zvqqyeh A Fine Elegant Handmade Irish Crochet Wedding Collar & Cuffs/Lappets 1860
Size: collar – 116 cm x 8 cm, cuff/lappets 48 cm x 5 cm
Starting Price: £38.00
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 10:00 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller winterwonderlandfairy, london, United Kingdom
Comments: This Irish Crochet set is in the ‘Gros Point’ style, probably indicating an earlier date.  Note the extra ornamentation on the edges of the raised work resembling Gros Point.  Looped picots on the irregular brides.  Some of the clothwork looks like it might be made double-crochet stitches.
I’m a little confused on the design arrangement, and wonder if the collar is an assembled piece. The neckline looks a little off compared to the rest of the piece.  And the whole thing lacks symmetry.
Some of the fillings look needle-made, and the closeup photos aren’t enough, but I think they are all crocheted.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 3rd quarter 19th c
Condition:
Modifications: The collar is quite long, and I’m wondering if the two ‘lappets’ were originally attached to the ends of the collar.
Damage: Occasional frayed bride.
Soilage: Some isolated brown spotting. Neckline looks a bit discolored.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

   No bids.

http://tinyurl.com/zmj9qof A Stunning Brussels Lace Handkerchief in Original Box C 1880
Size: 44 c square
Starting Price: £82.00
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 10:36 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller winterwonderlandfairy, london, United Kingdom
Comments: A handkerchief of Brussels bobbinlace applique on machine net.  Romantic floral design, well organized with finely worked technique. Minor needlelace accents, just a few knots used as fillings.   Quite unusual for something like this to have the box survive. You see surviving boxes much more often from French manufacturers like Lefébure.
Provenance: Comes in a box labeled “Trousseaux and Layettes, Steinmann & Co 185, 186 Piccadilly London W.
Date: I found a catalog for P. Steinmann & Co. which says ‘founded 1865’. So 4th quarter 19th c isn’t unreasonable. http://tinyurl.com/q5kv52c
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Some small holes and pinh9oles in the tulle.
Soilage: Some localized rust staining.
Finish: Horizontal and vertical fold creases, center cloth wrinkled.

     
Sold for £103.00, 2 bidders.

http://tinyurl.com/zr8osq2 Antique/vintage Brussels Duchesse and Point de Gaze lace dress front
Size: 15″ x 4.6″
Starting Price: £30.00
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 10:58 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller derbeatle, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Comments: A Brussels Duchesse dress ornament in a series of cascading bows with flowers/leaves down the center. No raised work in the Point de Gaze inserts, nor in the bobbinlace.  This is a really fun piece, delightful unconventional design, excellent technique.  It reminds me of the detailed work you see on the occasional lace ‘necklace’ that comes up on Ebay.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: One definite broken bride, might be another. Minor.
Soilage: Seller cites mid ivory color.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

   Sold for £124.00, 6 bidders.

http://tinyurl.com/pt7so6e A Large Antique Brussels Lace Duchesse Bertha/Collar
Size: 118 cm x 13.5 cm
Starting Price: £38.00
Auction ends: December 27, 2015, 2015, 11:14 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller winterwonderlandfairy, london, United Kingdom
Comments: A Bruges Bloemwerk bertha.  Note the ‘islands’ joining the brides, typical of this lace.  Conventional motifs, and note the interesting filling in the center front  A good example of the type.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: ~1900.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: A few minor frayed brides and tie-offs.
Soilage: Seller cites a few age marks.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

   Sold for £38.00, 1 bidder.

http://tinyurl.com/hlf29bq Pretty antique/vintage Brussels Duchesse and Point de Gaze lace collar
Size: not given
Starting Price: £35.00
Auction ends: December 28, 2015, 2015, 10:35 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller derbeatle, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Comments: A collar of Brussels Duchesse with no raised work in the Point de Gaze inserts.  Interesting, unconventional design arrangement, well executed. It makes good use of one decorative ‘mode’ filling pattern in the strapwork. The piece has a very nice presence.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: A few minor frayed brides and tie-offs.
Soilage: Looks clean.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

   Sold for £48.00, 3 bidders.

http://tinyurl.com/qd6365a Large handkerchief – Fine quality handmade English Honition bobbin lace
Size: 16+” across, lace ~5.5″ deep
Starting Price: $175.00
Auction ends: December 28, 2015, 2015, 1:07 PM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller lacemerchant, Whiting, Indiana, United States
Comments: A handkerchief of Honiton guipure. Breaking out of the snails/slugs style with nicely refined motifs.  There’s still a little way to go toward the complete naturalism of the ‘Treadwin’ era, but this is quite an interesting piece.  Good woven tally leadworks used well in the fillings.  Irregular picoted brides, sometimes used as a zigzag filling.  I like the more rigid repeat on the outside, with the scattered flowers next to the center.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 2nd half 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Occasional broken bride, minor.
Soilage: Seller cites ivory white color.
Finish: Overall wrinkling.

    No bids.

http://tinyurl.com/otqah4n Large Section Antique Black Silk Maltese Lace- Very Decorative
Size: 19″ x 46″ (top), 62″ (bottom)
Starting Price: £38.00 Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 29, 2015, 2015, 1:10 PM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller pbur3053, Selkirk, United Kingdom
Comments: Some of the best Maltese is found in these wide borders.  Not that the big square and triangular shawls aren’t beautiful, but somehow the lacemakers/designers seem to pay more detailed attention in the wider borders.  This one (wish there were more) has excellent guipure work, and note the upper ground of finely worked woven leaves.  I think the lower ground is a 5-pointed star, which you tend to find in better pieces.  Both the technique and design are excellent in this border.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: early 20th c.
Condition:
Modifications: Cut both end.
Damage: Small holes in scallops toward the right end.  Detachment of upper band near left side.
Soilage: Seller cites minor fading.
Finish: Vertical fold crease.

   Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/jlqkxfx Vintage Brussels Point De Gaze Lace Bertha Collar / Very Good / Exc. Cond.
Size: 39″ neckline, 5.5″ deep.
Starting Price: $69.00
Auction ends: December 29, 2015, 2015, 6:00 PM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller textiles2012, Hydes, Maryland, United States
Comments: A Brussels Duchesse bertha with raised petals in the Point de Gaze roses. A little raised work against halfstitch ground in some of the bobbinlace.  Conventional motifs, nicely arranged.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Minor broken brides/separations along neckline. PtdG mesh looks good.
Soilage: Seller says it has been cleaned but gives no information on the process.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

   Sold for $143.50, 8 bidders.

http://tinyurl.com/p5eafbl Col dentelle ancienne Angleterre antique Brussels lace bertha encaje antigua
Size: 104 cm long, 10 cm deep
Starting Price: 75.00 EUR Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 29, 2015, 2015, 11:07 PM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller atelier1900, Rhône-Alpes, France
Comments: My first thought is Honiton applique on machine net, because of the extensive woven leadwork tallies.  But the design of the motifs is more Belgian. But I think I’ll stick with Honiton, mainly because the flow of the individual motifs seems more English.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Occasional pinhole in the tulle.
Soilage: Seller cites an ivory color.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles.

      Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/odcg7fe barbe dentelle ancienne Bruxelles antique Brussels lace lappets encaje antigua
Size: 113 cm long, 13 cm deep
Starting Price: 65.00 EUR Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 29, 2015, 2015, 11:14 PM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller atelier1900, Rhône-Alpes, France
Comments: A lappet scarf of Brussels bobbinlace applique on machine net. Some needle-made knots singly and in grids are used as fillings, along with some rings buttonholed in the tulle.  Simple design, mostly at the ends. A good middle market product.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: I see one break in the fillings, a few pinholes in the tulle.
Soilage: Seller cites an ivory color with traces of yellow.
Finish: No obvious creases or wrinkles. Almost looks unused.

   Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/zbd4l2x Rare Museum Quality Ladies Antique Valencienne Lace Edge Handkerchief Monogram
Size: 13.5″ square
Starting Price: $189.00 Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 30, 2015, 2015, 4:55 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller simonedar, Sandusky, Ohio, United States
Comments: A Valenciennes handkerchief with a whitework monogram. The lace is well done with fine motifs.  You can see the diagonal seam at each corner, so I’m thinking the lace is cut to fit. But it’s a very good job. I especially like the monogram, which look like it incorporates some needlelace stitches.
Provenance: From a 3 album collection acquired in the 1980’s from Mr. Sigmund Sternfeld, who got it at a museum auction in New York City.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Nothing obvious from the photos.
Soilage: Looks clean.
Finish: Looks pristine, no creases or wrinkles.

   Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/zzhggjt Antique silk handmade Beds Maltese / Bedfordshire lace collar – English lace
Size: 42 cm neckline.  12 cm max depth.
Starting Price: £34.00 Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 30, 2015, 2015, 10:08 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller hedgehogpear, BN8, United Kingdom
Comments: A silk guipure collar.  At least I think it’s silk.  It has the form of a Beds collar, however I’m thinking it might Cluny because of the material, although that usually has a gimp.  An interesting piece which might represent an industry in competition with Beds.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 4th quarter 19th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: One hole at one corner.
Soilage: Seller cites a warm honey color. Some discoloration along neckline.
Finish: No creases or wrinkles.

   Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/o94gvzv EXQUISITE Vintage Hand Embroidered White Linen & Needle Lace Tablecloth 43″x44″
Size: 43″ x 44″
Starting Price: £145.00 Buy-it-Now
Auction ends: December 30, 2015, 2015, 10:20 AM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller ningsthings, Sutherland, United Kingdom
Comments: A table cover with an Irish Crochet border. Or maybe it might be some kind of pillow cover. Trefoil design, note the Clones knots. Good, precise work.  The lace looks shaped around the corners.  There’s a raised whitework embroidery just above the hem on all sides, quite good design and technique.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 1st quarter 20th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Occasional broken bride.
Soilage: Seller says it is newly laundered but gives no details on the process.
Finish: No creases or wrinkles.

   Unsold.

http://tinyurl.com/ztg8xp5 Vintage Black Spanish Tenerife Lace Scarf Veil Handmade Mourning
Size: 52″ x 21″
Starting Price: $39.99 Buy-it-Now or Make Offer
Auction ends: January 2, 2015, 2015, 2:08 PM PST
Offered by: Ebay seller rachels_linen, Ocala, Florida, United States
Comments: Black sol laces are rare, and I can’t really tell where this was made.  The weaving is quite loose.  The form is a mantilla headcover which might imply a Spanish market. I can’t tell if the thread is silk, seller thinks it might be cotton.  I’m guessing some kind of central/south American origin.
Provenance: None cited.
Date: 1st quarter 20th c.
Condition:
Modifications: None.
Damage: Occasional broken thread.
Soilage: Seller cites soft black with a touch of brown overtones.
Finish: A little overall wrinkling.

   Sold for a ‘make offer’ price.