AUVERGNE AND VELAY.

2 Id

AUlilLLAC AND MURAT (Dev. Cantal).

Tlie lace of Aurillnc had au early reputation. The origin ofthe manufacture is assigned to the fourteenth century, when acompany of emigrants established themselves at Cuenpa andValcameos, and nearly all the points of Aurillae were exportedinto Spain through this company. 14

It had an important commerce in the seventeenth century,where it is mentioned in the “ Kevolte des Passemens ”; and in1(370, the author of the “ Helices de la France ” writes: “ L’on faita Orillac les dentelles qui out vogue dans le royaume.” 15

Colbert established manufactories of points de France atAurillae and lliom, and met with the usual resistance on'thepart of the lace-makers, who would not give up what the intendantterms “ the wretched old point,” which an historian of the depart-ment describes, on the contrary, as consisting of rich, flowereddesigns, as may be seen by studying the portraits of manyAuvergnat noblemen of the period. 16 There are various letters onthe subject in the “ Colbert Correspondence; ” in the last fromColbert, 1670, he writes that the point d’Aurillae is improving, andthere are 8000 lace-women at work. It appears that he establishedat Aurillae a manufactory of lace, where they made, upon“des dessins flamands modifies,” a special article, then named“ point Colbert,” and, subsequently, “ point d’Aurillac.”

In the convent of the Visitation at Le Puy is shown thehice trimming of an alb, point d’Angleterre. It is 28 incheswide, of white thread, with brides picotees, of elegant scroll design.If, as tradition asserts, it was made in the country, it must be theproduce of this manufactory. 17

It appears that rich “ passements,” as they are still called inthe country, of gold and silver were made long before the periodol Colbert. We find abundant mention of them in the church

" Savary. 17 Photographed in the “ Album

15 Saviniere d’Alquie. d’Arclie'olojpe rcligieuse,” where it is

10 “ Guide Idstoriquo du Deparlement styled “ Valenciennes. ’de Cantal, par lleliri Duref.”