Very Fine Antique Needle Lace Crowing Bird, Framed  carved spools I just love the rendering

I just love the rendering of all of these very particular surgical tools together

And then those little flowers everywhere

Largest panels are 3 1/8" across

giving it just a fantastic presence and terrific sense of intimacy and specialness

This one belonged James Gifford and dates to 1804

Very Fine Antique Needle Lace Crowing Bird, Framed  carved spools I just love the renderingI can't get enough of figural lace, and this particular type style of needle lace is my favorite sort (I believe Belgian in origin), with what looks like a million tiny tight knots making up the bird alone. The wonderful spiderweb like field surrounding it here suggests a nest to me, as if it might have come with open beak to feed the babies, though as the bird appears to have a comb and wattle (launching this a wonderful arch of triangles, like a