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The Paisley Pear is one of the finest and most elaborate Buckinghamshire Point lace designs.

The Paisley Pear is one of the finest and most elaborate Buckinghamshire Point lace designs.
This example was likely to have been worked from a pattern dating to around 1860. The photograph from about 1901 shows the piece being made by Betsy Gibbons outside her cottage in Pudding Bag Lane, Paulerspury alongside Ann Atkins.

Typically Buckinghamshire Point lace made in Northamptonshire was used to trim clothing. Instead, this piece has a considerable length of 174cm and the quality of work is exceptional. The pattern consists of a repetition of a cloth- stitch paisley shaped head filled with honeycomb point, accompanied by flowers and leaves.

Betsy Gibbons & Ann Atkins Lacemakers of Paulerspury