XIV — Sale — Prices
XIV Sale Prices
Lace is such an article of luxury, and, as a rule, only belonging to the wealthiest class, that it seldom or ever comes into the open market. In 1907 two collections were dispersed at Christie’s—those of Mrs. Massey-Mainwaring and Mrs. Lewis Hill.
The most costly laces are the Venetian Points, some of the fine Rose Points being priceless. It is so fragile that little of it remains, and the smallest piece is eagerly snapped up by collectors.
In 1904 at Christie’s lace sold for the following prices—
| £ | |
| A 58-inch length of 24-ins. deep Point de Venise | 600 |
| A 4-yards length of Rose Point, 11 inches deep | 420 |
The same year—
| £ | |
| 4 yards of Point d’Argentan, 25 inches deep | 460 |
| 44 inches Point d’Alençon, 17 inches deep | 43 |
| 2½ yards Point d’Alençon, 14 inches deep | 46 |
In 1907, March 11, Massey-Mainwaring Sale at Christie’s—
| sold for | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| 1½ yards Venetian Gros Point, 8 inches deep | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 5 yards length of Reticella, 7½ inches deep | 33 | 12 | 0 |
| 4 short lengths | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 pieces of Point d’Alençon | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 yards narrow Point d’Argentan | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 3 pairs Point d’Argentan lappets | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 30 yards narrow Mechlin in odd lengths | 21 | 0 | 0 |
April 15th, the Lewis-Hill Sale at Christie’s:—
| sold for | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| 4 yards Venetian Point, 15½ inches deep | 68 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 yards Venetian Point, 8½ inches deep | 52 | 10 | 0 |
| 3 yards Spanish Point, 6½ inches deep | 73 | 10 | 0 |
| An Old Brussels scarf in two pieces | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 6 yards Brussels applique | 23 | 10 | 0 |
| A Point Gaze parasol-cover | 6 | 16 | 0 |
| A Brussels flounce | 12 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 yards Honiton flounce, 17 inches deep | 69 | 6 | 0 |
| Another similar | 69 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 yards Honiton lace in three pieces | 24 | 3 | 0 |
| An old lace coverlet | 25 | 4 | 0 |
| Another ditto | 26 | 5 | 0 |
| A lace altar-frontal | 21 | 1 | 0 |
With the exception of the Honiton flounces, which sold beyond their market value, all the above pieces were bought by London lace dealers!
The famous collection of the late Mrs. Hailstone was sold in 1909. This lady had for many years been known as a lace collector, and the sale of her effects was eagerly anticipated. The result was extremely interesting to the collectors, as Mrs. Hailstone had collected specimen lengths of almost every known lace. No huge prices obtained, but the sale may be regarded as representative, and the prices quoted as being open-market value.
| £ | s. | d. | |
| A set of bed-hangings, forming six curtains, made of Italian lace and linen | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| A large portière curtain of Italian lacis-work | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| A Point d’Alençon fichu | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Alençon cravat end, a pair of sleeves, one odd piece | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| A pair of Argentan lappets and six yards lace | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| A panel fine raised Venetian Point, 22 inches wide, 28 inches long | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| A Berthe, Point de Venise, 1 yard 120 inches, 12 inches deep | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point de Venise Berthe | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| A 1 yard 13 inches x 7 inches panel Venetian lace | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Two specimen pieces, 3¼ inches, all of Point de Venise à réseau | 14 | 10 | 0 |
| A Buckinghamshire collar, sleeves, and pieces | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| A specimen of old Honiton, baby’s cap, bodice, and handkerchief | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| An old Honiton baby’s robe, said to have belonged to Princess Charlotte | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| Seven volumes of lace specimens of old and modern lace | 35 | 0 | 0 |
In December, 1910, probably the most valuable collection ever placed upon the market was dispersed at Messrs. Christie’s. The late Sir William Abdy Bt., had for many years devoted his time and money to the collection of valuable lace, such as now can only be seen in the great national collections. The prices obtained are significant of the huge sums which must be paid to obtain wearable pieces of valuable lace such as skirt lengths, 3- or 4-yard lengths of deep flouncings, shawls, coverlets, aprons, &c.
| £ | s. | d. | |
| A fine Point d’Alençon skirt, 2½ yards, 44 inches deep | 160 | 0 | 0 |
| A fine Point d’Alençon scarf, 2 yards 9 inches × 10 inches deep | 72 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Argentan Berthe, 9½ inches deep | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Argentan flounce, 6 yards 30 inches × 5½ inches deep | 140 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Argentan flounce, 2 yards 26 inches long × 25 inches deep | 210 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Argentan flounce, 3 yards 28 inches long × 24 inches deep | 310 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Argentan flounce, 3 yards 35 inches long × 25 inches deep | 431 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point d’Argentan flounce, 3 yards 16 inches long × 24½ inches deep | 290 | 0 | 0 |
| An Italian gold and thread lace flounce, 4 yards long, 29 inches deep | 740 | 0 | 0 |
| A length of Italian Rose Point, 4 yards 15 inches long, 3 inches deep | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| An old Italian Rose Point flounce, 3 yards 31 inches long, 17½ inches deep | 660 | 0 | 0 |
| An old Italian Rose Point square, 31 inches × 34 inches | 180 | 0 | 0 |
| An old Italian Rose Point flounce, 3 yards 19 inches long, 7½ inches deep | 520 | 0 | 0 |
| An old Italian Rose Point panel, 34 inches × 9 inches | 95 | 0 | 0 |
| A Point de Venise lappet à réseau, 46 inches long, 5¼ inches wide | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Point de Venise trimming, 8 yards long × 4 inches deep | 65 | 0 | 0 |
| A piece of flat Venetian insertion, 4 yards × 3¾ inches deep | 92 | 0 | 0 |
| A Rose Point flounce, 4 yards long × 5 inches deep | 200 | 0 | 0 |
| A Rose Point flounce, 3 yards 31 inches long × 22 inches deep | 600 | 0 | 0 |
| A Rose Point flounce, 4 yards 7 inches long × 24 inches deep | 540 | 0 | 0 |
| A Rose Point flounce, 3 yards 32 inches long × 15 inches deep | 560 | 0 | 0 |
| A Rose Point flounce, 4 yards 11 inches long × 18 inches deep, and a pair of sleeves en suite | 650 | 0 | 0 |
| A Rose Point flounce, 4 yards 3 inches long × 11½ inches deep | 510 | 0 | 0 |
| A raised Point de Venise square, 1 yard 24 inches long × 1 yard 6 inches wide | 450 | 0 | 0 |
| An Old Brussels apron, 41 inches wide, 37 inches deep | 145 | 0 | 0 |
| A specimen piece of early Valenciennes, 2 yards long × 7 inches deep | 42 | 0 | 0 |
The following prices have been given by the South Kensington authorities for specimens shown:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| A Venetian Point altar-frontal, 8 × 3 feet | 350 | 0 | 0 |
| A Venetian chasuble, stole, maniple, and chalice veil | 200 | 0 | 0 |
| A 2 yards × 5/8 yard Venetian flounce | 125 | 0 | 0 |
| A Gros Point collar | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| A Brussels lappet | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| A drawn-thread jacket | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Linen cutwork tunic | 20 | 0 | 0 |