Item 26-272

This is a delightful and rather unusual antique hand-knotted French lace mat or doily, which measures 50x50cm including the tassels. 

It was almost certainly made in the 1920s to 1940s. It is worked in macramé (also called knotted lace) rather than crochet or bobbin lace, and its bold colours and stylised flowers give it a distinctly Art Deco flavour.

This would most likely have served as:

• a decorative centrepiece for a small side table

• a dressing-table mat

• a cushion top

• a tray cloth

• a display mat beneath a vase or lamp

Decorative macramé from the Art Deco period is less common than crochet or filet lace, particularly when it retains its