Point d'Alençon is a rare needle lacing technique practiced in the town of Alençon in the Normandy region of northwest France.
It is also known as the "Queen of Lace." This lace is the most elaborate needlepoint lace ever made in France. Its origins date back to 1665, when Louis XIV sought to improve the quality of French lace in order to reduce expenditures on Italian and Flemish laces by the court.
Alençon was a center for the production of lace during the 16th century when Jean-Baptiste Colbert set up a workshop to produce Venetian lace in 1665. The industry rapidly expanded during the reign of Louis XIV. Establishing this workshop aimed to reduce the court's dependency on costly imports from abroad. In the late 1670s, after Colbert's monopoly ended, Marthe La Perrière modified the Venetian technique, which led to the Alençon style. The demand for lace declined sharply after the French Revolution, but it was regained during the Second French Empire.
In addition to the high level of craftsmanship required, Alençon needle lace takes an unusually long time to make (around seven hours per square centimeter). This technique is used to produce openwork textiles that are used for decorative purposes in civil and religious life. The piece is made up of delicately stitched nets holding the elements together. Several stages of the process are involved: drawing and pricking the design on parchment, creating the outline and background, then stitching the patterns, filling the spaces with stitches, and decorating with designs. Finally, embroidered designs are added to create relief.
A razor blade is used to remove the Alençon needle lace from the parchment. It is then trimmed and the filling stitches are polished using a lobster claw. A practical apprenticeship is required to master this process, and to fully master it requires seven to ten years of training. Each Alençon lacemakers are well-versed in all stages of the process. Learning occurs in a close relationship between the specialized lacemaker and the apprentice and is exclusively accomplished through oral transmission and practical teaching.
This lace-making technique was ensured to survive since a National Lace Workshop was founded in 1976. As of today, the workshop houses a small group of crafters who specialize in needlework and produce pieces for state-owned properties. Lace is also exhibited permanently along with a display showing how it is made at the Musée des Beaux Arts et de la Dentelle, located in the town center. The public can access the workshops on certain days during the year by appointment.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/craftsmanship-of-alenon-needle-lace-making-00438) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alen%C3%A7on_lace) (https://visitnormandy.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/alencon-lace/)