Stole

This stole dates from an interesting period in the English lace industry. The industry had benefited from the Napoleonic wars (1796-1815). Trade barriers deprived the French producers of important English custom and provided a boost for English lacemakers. However, the English lace industry declined from about 1815 until the mid 1820s. Lacemaking in the Midland counties then began to prosper again, resulting in pieces like this stole. It has a handmade net ground, even though machine-made net was well-established by this time.

During the 1820s and 1830s lace on male dress fell out of fashion. However, it played a larger part in women's dress. The growing fullness in skirts and sleeves allowed more scope for its use. So too did the popularity of veils and overdresses made entirely from lace.