Bucks Point Lace


Bucks Point Lace lies somewhere between the extremely fine Honiton lace and the slightly thicker Torchon. Indeed, lacemakers will often master Torchon before they move on to Bucks Point. It gets its name from the Buckinghamshire region in England where it was traditionally made, however, like many of the East Midlands laces it was not only confined to that county but was made across the region. It was actually based on a style of European mesh-grounded lace which originated in the eighteenth century. This style was highly intricate and very difficult to make. Some of the more advanced samples of Bucks Point Lace were highly decorative and covered with floral motifs, requiring up to 60 pairs of bobbins for an edging. The mesh ground was made in a hexagonal pattern and gives it a net-like background pattern made in very delicate thread. This is balanced with more intricate and busier parts of the lace made in a heavier thread known as gimp. The gimps are used to outline parts of the design and the outer edges are decorated with picots (small loops of thread).

Some of the best samples of Bucks Point Lace are on old handkerchiefs and they make perfect little samplers of intricate tatting. It was traditionally a straight lace with no provision for corners but lace makers adapted and if it was used for a handkerchief, the seamstress would go round the corners with gathers. By the early twentieth century they introduced Bucks Point lace corners but this was not a traditional style and remember if you see these on a handkerchief it will be relatively modern. Good handkerchiefs will be bordered with narrow edgings of handmade lace. These handkerchiefs are often undervalued because the lace is subtle, and because it is difficult to separate handmade from machine. Often valuations will not take into account the fact that the handmade handkerchief is a work of art in miniature and totally unique. The highest prices will be paid for small handkerchiefs of the nineteenth and early twentieth century with figurative designs. These may sell for as much as $100 - $300.