Volltext Seite (XML)
174 HISTORY OR LACE. “ Colbert Correspondence,” showing it to be coeval with Alenpon. '1 here still exists at Argentan an humble inn with “ Le Point de France ” as its sign. The two manufactures appear to have been distinct, though some lace-makers near Ligneres-la-Doucelle worked for both establishments. Alenpon made the finest reseau —Argentan specially excelled in the bride. The bride, or we would rather call it the “grande bride,” ground, to which we have before alluded in the notice on Alenpon, belonged almost exclusively to Argentan. It was of very elaborate construction, and consists of a large six-sided mesh, worked over with the button-hole stitch. It was always printed on the parchment pattern, and the upper angle of the hexagon is pricked. After the hexagon is formed by passing the needle and thread round the pins in a way too complicated to be worth explaining, the six sides are worked over with seven or eight button-hole stitches in each side. The grande bride ground was consequently very strong. It was much affected in France; the reseau was more preferred abroad. 3 The flowers of Argentan were bolder and larger in pattern, in higher relief, heavier and coarser than those of Alenpon. (Coloured Plate IX., and Fig. 84.) The toile was flatter, and more compact. The workmanship differed in character. On the clear grande bride ground this lace was more effective than the minuter workmanship of Alenpon. In 1708 the manufacture had almost fallen to decay, when it was raised by one Sieur Mathieu Guyard, merchant mercer at Paris, who states that “ his ancestors and himself had for more than 120 years been occupied in fabricating black silk and white thread lace in the environs of Paris.” He applies to the council of the king for permission to re-establish the fabric of Argentan, and to employ workwomen to the number of above 600. He asks for exemption from lodging soldiers, begs to have the royal arms placed over his door, and stipulates that Montulay, his draughts man and engraver, shall be exempted from all taxes except the capitation. The arret obtained by Guyard is dated 24th July 1708. Guyard’s children continued the establishment. Montulay 3 Indeed so little is the beautiful work- dowers of Argentan relentlessly cut out, nianshi]) of this ground known or under- and transferred to bobbin-net, “ to get rid stood that the author lias seen priceless of the ugly, coarse ground.”