HELP!

There is a lady at a museum who needs help dating this lovely lace. I told her I'd ask around and see if anyone could help. The information she has is thus:
The family story is that the lace (Point-de-Venise) was purchased from the sister-in-law of the Russian Grand-Duchess Olga Alexandrovna in 1922. It is supposed to be made in Belgium in the early years of the 19th century, on special order from the Grand-Duchess's family. The family paid $250 for it in Russia in 1922, and had it appraised in New York the same year for $18,000. The original 4.5 yards was fashioned into a bridal veil in the 1940s.


( how old do you think? )

Personally, I don't think it's any earlier than the late 19th c but I could be very wrong. I'm not that good with lace.

X-posted

Thought this might be helpful

I ran across some WONDERFUL information in regards to 16th C Turkish women's clothing early last year...and lost the link. It was dreadful to loose because the link had tons, and I mean TONS, of great information. Well, I decided to give it a shot and try and find it today and...yeap! I found it!

http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/Costume/The%20Costumes%20Of%20Ottoman%20Women.pdf

It's a big pdf so it might take a bit on slower computers/connections. This might be of interest to anyone going to A Day in the Middle East. It does discuss the layers (all of 'em) and gives a pretty good picture as to what was worn.

Now, to get that linen so I can start on Mom's outfit...

Ummm...So either I have ADD or I just can't keep to lists for anything

That whole "gotta work on Mom's dress" thing? I'll pull out the pattern and the fabric right after this post. I swear. Really.

So last night I just *had* to work on the fairy gown. Why? I have no idea. I ripped apart both bridesmaid's gowns and hand sewed the darker skirt to the lighter dress. I then tore the front of the dress up so you could see the layers. I still have no idea what to do with the bodice to the darker one. I've torn it to shreds. I think I could make a Juliet cap out of it or use part of it as the bottom of the darker skirt as an accent piece. I really don't know.

I have some trim that came with a bit of fabric I bought last year. It's only 16 inches but that's more than enough to cover the front of the fairy gown. I also have a lot of silk scraps from the 1840's gown attempt. Those "pink" looking things? Those are actually the silk scraps. I have to sew everything up and on but this is the idea so far...

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