The sequence of patterns in lace is roughly as follows. From about 1540 to
1590 they were composed of geometric forms set within squares, or of
crossed and radiating line devices, resulting in a very open fabric,
stiff and almost wiry in effect, without brides and réseaux. From 1590
may be dated the introduction into patterns of very conventional floral
and even human and animal forms and slender scrolls, rendered in a tape
like texture, held together by brides. To the period from 1620 to 1670 belongs the development of long continuous scroll patterns with
and brides, accompanied in the case of needle made laces with an
elaboration of
details, e.g. cordonnet with massings of picots. Much of
these laces enriched with fillings or modes was made at this time. From
1650 to 1700 the scroll patterns gave way to arrangements of detached
ornamental details and about 1700 to 1760 more
important schemes or designs were made into which were introduced naturalistic renderings of
garlands, flowers, birds, trophies, architectural ornament and human
figures.
From
1760 to 1800 small details consisting of bouquets, sprays of flowers,
single flowers, leaves, buds, spots and such like were adopted, and
sprinkled over meshed grounds, and the character of the texture was
gauzy and filmy. Since that time variants of the
foregoing styles of pattern and textures have been used according to the
bent of fashion in favor of simple or complete ornamentation, or of
stiff, compact or filmy textures.