_(French (?) Alençon or Sedan) late 17th century_] [Illustration: PLATE LX. TWO PATTERNS NEEDLE-POINT LACE À RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON In No. 1 the pattern is Venetian in style and the fillings and réseau also mark it as from Burano. In No. 2 the style is more French and it may be from Alençon: every detail of the patterns is outlined with a buttonhole-stitch cordonnet. Together 9 ft. 6 in. _Late 17th century_] [Illustration: PLATE LXI. TWO BORDERS OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE A RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON In the border small compartments are treated with modes or à jours and occasional brides picotées: a buttonhole-stitch cordonnet outlines every detail of the pattern. 4 ft. 8 in. _Alençon, about 1710_] [Illustration: PLATE LXII. FOUR BORDERS OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE À RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON Together 13 ft. 6 in. _Alençon, about 1740_] [Illustration: PLATE LXIII. CAP-BORDER OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE À RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON The pattern consists of a waved stem serrated, from which spring small sprays of flowers. The width is graduated and the length is without a join. The modes or fillings, at intervals along the edge, are of dainty star and other geometric devices and all particularly characteristic of French (Alençon) lace. 3 ft. 4 in. _Alençon, middle 18th century_] [Illustration: PLATE LXIV. BEAUTIFUL LAPPET OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE À RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON The pattern is of tiny wavy stems, having little leaves and peapods, which recur in the design of the outer border with lattice and honeycomb fillings enriched with minute picots. 4 ft. _Alençon, late 18th century_] [Illustration: PLATE LXV. THREE PATTERNS OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE À RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON The ornamental design is mainly confined to the border, the réseau being sprinkled with dots, called pois or sometimes larmes (hence the expression semé de larmes). Together 7 ft. 6 in. _Alençon, late 18th century_] [Illustration: PLATE LXVI. TWO PATTERNS OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE À RÉSEAU, CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON The main ornamentation is along the border. The ground is semé de pois and little sprays, after the style of other such small devices, some of which gave rise to the term semé de larmes. Together 9 ft. 10 in. _Alençon, late 18th century_] [Illustration: PLATE LXVII. CAPE OF NEEDLE-POINT CALLED POINT D'ALENÇON This piece shows two sizes of mesh in the réseaux: the large forms the main ground, semé de larmes, whilst the finer is introduced as a mode in the border of pointed leafy forms. 5 ft. 3 in. × 5½ in.] [Illustration: PLATE LXVIII. TWO BORDERS OF NEEDLE-POINT LACE