FLANDERS (WEST).

109

lias now attained a high decree of perfection. Courtrai hasmade great advances towards rivalling Ypres in cheapness andquality.

Not a hundred years since, when the laces of Valenciennesprospered, those of Belgium were designated as “ fausses Valen-ciennes.” Belgium has now the monopoly to a commercial valueof more than 800,00U?. 60 The other principal centres of the manu-facture are Bruges, Courtrai, and Menin, in West, Ghent and Alost,in East, Flanders. When Peuchet wrote in the last century, hecites “les dentelles a l’instar de Valenciennes” of Courtrai asbeing in favour, and generally sought after both in England and

Fig. 57.

Valenciennes lace of Ypres.

K A h \ \

a; a a

K A A

A > A f

A A A

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A A A A A A A

\ \ A

V, S A.

A /

y

France, while those of Bruges are merely alluded to as “ passingfor Mechlin.” From this it maybe inferred the tide had not thenflowed so far north. The Valenciennes of Bruges, from its roundground, has never enjoyed a high reputation. In forming theground, the bobbins are only twisted twice, while in those ofYpres and Alost the operation is performed four and five times. 61The oftener the bobbins are twisted the clearer and more esteemedis the Valenciennes.

The “ guipure de Bruges,” or “point duchesse,” made at Bruges,

“° France alone buys of Belgium more 61 At Ghent two turns and a half, andValenciennes than all the other countries at Courtrai three and a half. Each townunited; upwards of 12 millions of francs has its own peculiar stitch.

(480.000/.). Aubry.