Guipure (Chemical Lace)
Chemical laces (also called Guipure laces) were  an invention of the Swiss lace industry  of the mid-19th century and became very "en vogue" starting around 1880. These laces were embroidered on a ground that was then etched away in an acid bath . For example, cotton thread might be embroidered on a silk cloth which was then dissolved in bleach, leaving the cotton thread unaffected. The resulting lace could range from as fine as a cobweb to quite heavy for curtains, etc.  This chemical lace (guipure) soon became very popular since it was beautiful and affordable, offering a range of patterns and designs that one can hardly visualize today.

Chemical laces are still produced today (mainly in viscose rayon), but the delicacy of the thread and the designs of the old days are gone forever - they would be too expensive to produce today.

Guipure laces can be cut apart without falling apart and can be dyed easlily since they shrink only marginally. I dye white lace using strong coffee in a hot (not boiling) water bath with some cooking salt added. Wet the lace, immerse it into the coffee bath ( a sink, a bucket) for about 10 minutes or longer (check the color depth frequently). Then rinse the lace well, add a little fabric softener to the last rinse water, roll the lace in a dry towel, pull the lace in shape and let it almost get dry. Press well with a hot iron. You will obtain a beautiful, drapey ecru lace.

All Guipure laces shown here are old (not antique), Swiss made and 100% cotton. All are limited stock only - as long asw supplies last.

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Edge lace strips, ecru, 75 cm x 4.5 cm, per strip
GUI-901
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Finest filligree vintage guipure lace in 75 cm long strips that end with a diamond on both sides and can easlily be joined together. One can cut the motifs apart, stitch them togethr in different confirgurations - whichever way you use this lace, it is delightful! Perfect for antique or antique reproduction dolls! Very limited stock.

iInsertion lace, 27 mm wide, ecru, per meter
GUI-906
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Very old lace with some typical age spots. Very limited quantity.

Insertion lace, ecru, 32 mm wide, per meter
GUI-905
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Very old lace with some typical age spots. Very limited quantity.

Insertion lace, 27 mm wide, per Meter
GUI-906
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Very old lace with some typical age spots. Very limited quantity.

Guipure AT-004 - 13 cm wide, per meter
AT-004
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Guipure Lace
in stock
Minimum: 1 Meter
Superb old Guipure lace - very delicate. Cut one edge off to obtain an edge lace, plus a beading lace. Very limited quantity. ecru or white.

Guipure AT-0062,3 cm wide, ecru, per Meter
AT-006
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in stock
Minimum: 1 Meter

Guipure lace, edge, 8.5 cm wide, ecru, per meter
GUI-002
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Larger picture
in stock
Minimum: 1 Meter

100% Swiss cotton. Stunning vintage Guipure lace. As will all Guipure laces, you can cut the lace into various sections without it fraying. See cover picture and project Gildebrief 3/98. Matching fabric: Contrasting, fine silk.

Guipure lace, edge, 20 mm wide, ecru, per meter
GUI-003
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Larger picture
in stock
Minimum: 1 Meter

100% Swiss cotton. Lovely vintage Guipure  edge lace for a most decorative edge trim.The motifs can be cut apart and stitched down singly, or they can be reassembled into a fabric for something like a bonnet or a small handbag. Matching fabric: Perfect placed flat onto contrasting silk or cotton fabric.

Guipure lace, edge, 3 cm wide, white, per meter
GUI-005
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Larger picture
in stock
Minimum: 1 Meter

100% Swisss cotton. Lovely guipure lace with a beautiful, old-fahioned scallop edge. Perfect for French doll costumes.  Can be tinted ecru in strong black coffee! The 5 mm upper edge is either stitched into the seam or turned to the wrong side of the garment. Matching fabric: Looks best ungathered over contrasting silk or cotton fabric.

Guipure heart, white, 2.5 x 3 cm
GUI-0057
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GUI-0057
in stock