THE FINESSE OF ALENÇON LACE...
THE ART OF LACEMAKING AND THE ANCIENT CITÉ DES DUCS:
AN ETERNAL LINK
Ruffs, jabots, headpieces, wedding dresses and veils... In the 17th century, all nobles and high clergymen wore Venice lace which was very fashionable at the time. But in 1650, Marthe de la Perrière, a lacemaker from Alençon who was keen to perfect this delicate art, encouraged her young apprentices to create their own technique.
They gradually invented Alençon lace, a very fine needlepoint lace of a rare and unique quality.
In 1665, Colbert decided to establish a Royal Manufacture in Alençon and turned this unanimously appreciated needle lace into a reference that would put an end to the import of foreign imitations. This production employed nearly 10,000 people during the first half of the 18th century and, at the first Universal Exhibition,
held in London in 1851, Alençon needlepoint lace was recognised as the "queen of laces".
WORLD-UNIQUE CRAFTMANSHIP INSCRIBED ON THE UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST
Through the centuries, the lacemakers’ savoir-faire was passed on through the traditional teaching methods of oral explanations and hands-on practice. Nowadays, only the ten or so lacemakers of the Atelier National du Point d’Alençon, created in 1976, still work to preserve this unique expertise. It takes nearly ten years for a lacemaker to master this art which is carried out only by hand, since no machine is capable of imitating it.
Just imagine... It takes 7 to 15 hours to produce a piece of lace the size of a postage stamp!
The workshop is attached to the Mobilier National department, which is gradually guiding the lacemakers towards a more contemporary production so that they can apply their own techniques to modern artistic models.
Famous across the world for its fine mesh and intricate detail, Alençon lace is inimitable.
Naturally then, it was added to the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010.
PARTICIPEZ À NOS ATELIERS "ON FAIT DANS LA DENTELLE " !
Vivez une expérience unique !
En partenariat avec Charlène Poret & le musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle.
Le temps d'un week-end, initiez-vous aux secrets de réalisation de la dentelle au Point d'Alençon
dans un esprit convivial et participatif.
Vous souhaitez découvrir un savoir-faire unique au monde inscrit à l'UNESCO ?
Suivez les ateliers de Charlène Poret, dentellière experte en point d'Alençon et formée par l'Atelier du Mobilier National. Elle vous transmettra sa passion et ses secrets pour réaliser cette dentelle exceptionnelle.
Une initiation au dessin de dentelle accompagnera votre travail pour mettre en valeur vos créations.
Tout niveau, débutants acceptés.
Si difficulté de vue, venir avec sa loupe.
Tarifs par week-end : 116 €*
*comprend la visite de la section dentelle du musée,
les 2 demi-journées d’ateliers, les fournitures, les fiches techniques et un tuto vidéo
Réservation obligatoire auprès de l’Office de tourisme d’Alençon
Lieu des ateliers : salle pédagogique du musée des Beaux-Arts
et de la Dentelle - Cour Carrée de la Dentelle - Alençon