The Shibuya City Shoto Museum of Art will be holding the "Diane Kreis Collection Antique Lace Exhibition" from June 12th to July 29th.

Shawl - Chantilly Lace, 19th Century, France ©Keita (FLAME)
Lace was once popular among European royalty and aristocrats as a symbol of wealth and power, and has always held great value throughout history. Crafted by skilled artisans over long periods of time, lace was more than just a luxurious decorative item; it was a world of exquisite and delicate beauty, sometimes valued even more than castles and jewels. This exhibition will feature approximately 170 pieces from the vast collection of Diane Kreis, a world-renowned antique lace collector and connoisseur, which number tens of thousands of pieces. The exhibition will focus on lace from its heyday between the 16th and 19th centuries, including royal lace from royalty and aristocrats such as Catherine de Medici, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as lace incorporated into fashion and interior design. The exhibition is divided into five chapters. Lace can be broadly categorized into "needlepoint lace," which is based on embroidery techniques, and "bobbin lace," which is based on tassel techniques. Chapter 1, "Birth and Evolution," traces the evolution of lace techniques from their birth to their development over time, including lace made using the cutwork technique that led to the birth of needlepoint lace. Chapter 2, "What is Expressed in Lace," introduces the various motifs that have emerged in lace as techniques have evolved, including plants such as flowers, vines, and leaves, animals, insects, and birds, people from royalty and aristocrats to peasants, as well as angels, gods, and Buddhas.

Handkerchief (named after Queen Victoria), Limerick, 19th century, Ireland ©Hiroshi Abe

Chapter 3, "Lace of Royalty and Nobility," focuses on lace, which originated in the early 16th century and quickly spread to royal courts throughout Europe, and exhibits delicate and gorgeous lace that originated with Catherine de Medici, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, Queen Victoria, and others. Chapter 4, "The Role of Lace in Christian Culture," features lace that is deeply rooted in Christian culture and has been used in religious ceremonies marking important life events, such as baptism, first communion, marriage, and funerals. In the family of owner Diane Kreis, a baptismal dress, veil, and bonnet from her great-grandmother's time in 1860 are still passed down.

Panel: Point de Venise and Binche Lace, 1914-18, Belgium Keita (FLAME)
Chapter 5 displays Belgian "war lace." With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Belgium's 50,000 lacemakers fell into poverty. To help them, Herbert Clark Hoover, the future 31st President of the United States, established the Belgian Relief Committee. They provided thread and food to sustain the lace industry. Belgian lace from this period is known as "war lace." Experience the techniques and traditions of Belgian lace, preserved through the passion and tireless efforts of many people. Related events will also be held during the exhibition. A commemorative lecture by Diane Kreis titled "Lace in My Life" will be held from 2:00 PM on June 17th, and a commemorative lecture by exhibition curator Toru Momo will be held from 2:00 PM on June 30th, titled "The Appeal of Antique Lace in the 21st Century." In addition, from 2 PM on July 16th, the curator will give a mini-lecture on the exhibition's highlights and decorative lace patterns, and from 2 PM on June 22nd and July 7th, the curator will also give gallery talks. A workshop titled "Making a Lace Pill Case" will also be held on July 8th from 2 PM, where participants will create pill cases using "princess lace," a new type of craft lace introduced in Belgium in the late 19th century. The workshop is limited to 20 people, and advance registration by return postcard is required. For more information and to apply, please visit the official website (http://www.shoto-museum.jp/). "Antique lace" is a work of art created using techniques that could be described as virtuoso, but have now been almost lost. Enjoy these pieces, which represent the pinnacle of medieval and early modern European beauty and craftsmanship, and are a world apart from the lace we see today.