Flea Market Item 26-289

This is a lovely example of a handmade antique shuttle tatting, almost certainly made in France, and dating to the late Victorian or Edwardian period (c. 1890–1915). It is considerably finer and more elaborate than everyday tatting and was created by an experienced lacemaker.

The piece is an oval doily or decorative mat, measuring approximately 21 × 16 cm. It has been worked in a warm ecru cotton thread, which has developed a beautiful mellow patina with age.

The design is highly symmetrical, featuring:

• a central rosette of delicate floral motifs

• interlocking rings and chains

• graceful scrolls and looping picots

• a deeply scalloped border formed from repeating looped arches

• radiating connecting bars that divide the design into elegant sections

While tatting was once a common domestic craft, examples of this calibre have become increasingly sought after as both decorative objects and examples of traditional textile artistry.