White Lace Piece

One of the claimants for the earliest surviving piece of machine-made lace.

Additional images for this work

Art work details

Year of production:
c. 1769
Maker:
Robert Frost
Place:
Nottigham
Materials:
cotton
Measurements:
Length 47 cm, width 44.5 cm
Tags:
Nottingham, cotton

This piece of lace, made by Robert Frost in about 1769, is one of the claimants for the earliest surviving piece of machine-made lace.

Robert Frost used a carved roller to motivate the ticklers which transferred loops to one side or the other to make the net. The pattern, a diaper of leaves and flowers, is in plain knitting. The outlines are put in by hand. This piece was given to the museum by Alderman J T Spalding, one of the founders of the Nottingham department store Griffin & Spalding (now Debenhams).

ID Number: NCM 1923-184

Other objects from this period