So I have been to the lace exhibition in St. Gallen last week, about which I had already posted here.
It was stunning, amazing, and my mom and I spent about three hours in there. I can only recommend it, even though it is all in German only (believe me, I can't understand that - it would be so easy, since all exhibits were numbered and there was a little booklet with all the explanations, so they could just have printed that in English as well... ). It's focus really is on the history of lace, starting with three rooms on the top floor that showcased respectively the 1500s-1600s, 1700s, 1800s-early 1900s. Loads and loads of historical examples on display, and very beautifully displayed indeed, so one could well see the small construction details (I am still completely stumped by how fine these things were), paired with prints of portrait paintings showing how certain lace accessories were worn at the time. 18th, 19th and early 20th century examples were paired with fashion prints as well as certain period costumes, to show how things were worn. Some beautiful 19th century gowns, among them one completely made of lace for Empress Eugenie of France. On the level below, the rooms showed how from the late 1800s, machine-produced lace from St. Gallen conquered the world, with historical dresses from 1900-1920 on show, a long wall full of sample books, a huge glass case with the labels and shipping/display envelopes from the companies (beautifully designed and very displayable - quite works of art in themselves), period photos of lacy dresses at the races ca. 1905-1925, and 50s-70s vintage lace dresses. Some where mainstream, some where couture creations by the likes of Dior, Saint Laurent and Givenchy, with a few coming from the personal collection of the wife of one company owner (Forster - one of the few companies that still exist), and a wall full of 1940s-1970s photos of couture dresses made from or adorned with St. Gallen lace. Two actually showed dresses which where on show, from the company owner's wife. There are a few pics on the exhibitions website here.
It is a beautifully made exhibition, and certainly well worth visiting. Pure eye candy!
Karin
It was stunning, amazing, and my mom and I spent about three hours in there. I can only recommend it, even though it is all in German only (believe me, I can't understand that - it would be so easy, since all exhibits were numbered and there was a little booklet with all the explanations, so they could just have printed that in English as well... ). It's focus really is on the history of lace, starting with three rooms on the top floor that showcased respectively the 1500s-1600s, 1700s, 1800s-early 1900s. Loads and loads of historical examples on display, and very beautifully displayed indeed, so one could well see the small construction details (I am still completely stumped by how fine these things were), paired with prints of portrait paintings showing how certain lace accessories were worn at the time. 18th, 19th and early 20th century examples were paired with fashion prints as well as certain period costumes, to show how things were worn. Some beautiful 19th century gowns, among them one completely made of lace for Empress Eugenie of France. On the level below, the rooms showed how from the late 1800s, machine-produced lace from St. Gallen conquered the world, with historical dresses from 1900-1920 on show, a long wall full of sample books, a huge glass case with the labels and shipping/display envelopes from the companies (beautifully designed and very displayable - quite works of art in themselves), period photos of lacy dresses at the races ca. 1905-1925, and 50s-70s vintage lace dresses. Some where mainstream, some where couture creations by the likes of Dior, Saint Laurent and Givenchy, with a few coming from the personal collection of the wife of one company owner (Forster - one of the few companies that still exist), and a wall full of 1940s-1970s photos of couture dresses made from or adorned with St. Gallen lace. Two actually showed dresses which where on show, from the company owner's wife. There are a few pics on the exhibitions website here.
It is a beautifully made exhibition, and certainly well worth visiting. Pure eye candy!
Karin
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