Honiton (East Devon) lace sprig

This snowdrop motif is said to have been designed and made by Louisa Tucker, a 19th century lace maker and designer who lived at Barnells, a house in Branscombe on the East Devon coast. The flower uses typical East Devon lace techniques, including raising and rolling. This is more densely worked than another example of a snowdrop designed by Louisa (19/1931/7). The leaves are worked in half stitch, the buds and flowers in both whole and half stitch with two of them having raised leadworks, the filling stitches used to complete the body of the flowers. This is one of a series of naturalistic sprigs (lace motifs) said to have been designed and made by Louisa, a daughter of the Branscombe lace manufacturer John Tucker. These finely made pieces are naturalistic representations of wild and garden plants. They were made on a lace pillow using bobbins wound with fine cotton threads.

John Tucker’s successful family business had an office in London run by his son. The firm had the distinction of supplying lace to HRH Princess Alexandra for her marriage to Albert Edward in 1863. Her wedding lace now forms part of the Royal Collections held by HM the Queen. Louisa’s sister, Mrs Mary Ford, wore a comparatively simple veil with her wedding dress. These are also preserved with the dress and textile collections at RAMM.