Description
A beautifully preserved Edwardian dress front fashioned in delicate chemical lace, this refined piece displays the grace and craftsmanship of the early 1900s. Its floral motifs and fine mesh panels frame a neckline once meant to lend soft elegance to a lady’s tailored costume or blouse.
This exquisite antique lace dress front, or “dicky,” dates from the Edwardian era, circa 1900–1910. Worked in lovely *chemical lace*—machine embroidery on a soluble ground that was later dissolved to leave intricate floral motifs—the design captures the romantic detailing so admired at the turn of the century. The central panel is richly patterned with scrolling blossoms and medallions, framed by a border of scalloped lace and delicate cotton net.
A rare feature is the presence of **fine metal stays** stitched within the lining to keep the front perfectly upright when worn beneath a jacket or bodice. This detail indicates its origin as a detachable dress insert, meant to lend the crisp appearance of a lace blouse while being easily removed for laundering or change of style.
The lace itself remains in excellent antique condition, its tone now softly aged to a gentle ivory that speaks of time and care. Measuring approximately **17 inches in length**, **7¼ inches across the front**, and with a collar **12 inches around and 3 inches wide**, it makes a striking example for collectors, costume historians, or anyone wishing to display or repurpose fine period lacework.
A graceful survivor from an era when every detail of a lady’s dress spoke of refinement and quiet luxury.
**Historical Note:**
Chemical lace, sometimes called “burnt-out lace,” became fashionable around 1895–1915 as machine techniques advanced to imitate the delicacy of hand-made laces. Its firm patterning and floral motifs suited the crisp, high-collared blouses and tailored suits of the Edwardian decade—making this piece an authentic and evocative relic of that graceful age.
