Alencon

Alencon Lace History and Stories

There are many wonderful stories about the beginnings of Alencon lace. Most of these fascinating tales center around key people in the court of Louis XIV.

One of Louis’s ministers is said to have become very concerned with the huge loss of revenue flowing out of France toward Italy. This was due to the fortunes being used to purchase lace in Venice. The minister’s name was Colbert and he owned a chateau near Alencon. He is said to have bribed a group of thirty of the best lace makers of the Venetian schools and settled them at his Chateau in 1665. He started a small lace factory there and apparently had great success. The lace produced near Alencon was said to rival the best of the Venetian schools.

As the fame of Alencon lace grew, the Venetians became very concerned. Many said the laces of Alencon, which was first called “Point de France”, and the laces of the Venetian schools, were indistinguishable! The Venetians issued an edict threatening the life of all lace makers who didn’t return to Venice and threatening their families as well. They promised that all returning lace makers would be forgiven, rewarded handsomely and would have incomes for life. This didn’t seem to work, as the laces of Alencon continued to be made successfully and greatly grew in popularity.

Louis XIV was very influential in supporting the development of French lace. He forbade the use of any other type of lace in his immediate court. In 1670, it is said that the hangman publicly burned a huge fortune of foreign laces.

Story sources:

• “Chats on Old Lace” by Mrs. Lowes, 1909
• “The Lace Book” by N. Hudson Moore, 1937

See more photos in the Alencon lace gallery.