GERMANY ("NORTH AND SOUTH).

231

've have “ Dresden aprons,” “ Dresden ruffles,” showing that de-scription of lace to have been in high fashion. Wraxall, too, 1778,describes a Polish beauty as wearing “ a broad Medicis of Dresdenlace.” As early as 1760 “Dresden work” is advertised as taughtto young ladies in a boarding-school at Kelso, 17 together with“ shell-work in grottoes, flowers, catgut, working lace on bobbinsor wires, and other useful accomplishments.”

The lace of Saxony has sadly degenerated since the eighteenthcentury. The patterns are old and ungraceful, and the lace ofinferior workmanship, but owing to the low price of labour, theyhave the great advantage of cheapness, which enables them tocompete with France in the American and Russian markets. Inall parts of Germany there are some few men who make lace.On the Saxon side of the Erzgebirge many boys are employed,and during the winter season men of all ages work at the pillow;and it is observed that the lace made by men is firmer and of asuperior quality to that of the women. The lace is a dentelletorchon, of large pattern, much in the style of the old lace ofIschia. 18

The Saxon lace of the present day is an imitation of oldBrussels. This lace is costly, and is sold at Dresden and otherlarge towns of Germany, and particularly at Paris, where thedealers pass it oft’ for old lace. It employed, in 1851,300 workers.A quantity of so-called Maltese lace is also made.

The new Museum for Art and Industry, lately opened atVienna, contains several pattern books of the sixteenth century,and in it has been exhibited a fine collection of ancient lacebelonging to General von Hauslaub, Master - General of theOrdnance.

GEKMANY (NORTH AND SOUTH).

“ Presque dans toutes sortes d’arts les plus habiles ouvriers,ainsi que les plus riches negociants, sont de la religion pretenduereformee,” said the Chancellor d’Aguesseau: 19 and when his

aprons, silvered silks, and rich brocades.” ” “ Caledonian Mercury, UGh

And again, “ Your jioints of Spa*n, your 18 Letter from lvoes n z,

ruffles of Dresden .”—Fool of Quality, 19 In 1713.

170'G.