This is Baroness Augusta Liedts. She dies at the age of 35 and has already amassed an exquisite collection of lace. In 1889, four years after her death, her husband donates the collection to the city. After all, Bruges has a rich and vibrant lace tradition.
The lace can be admired right here, in this room of the museum, which in its early years was even called 'The Lace Museum'! In appreciation, the city has this white marble bust of Augusta Liedts made. The museum's lace collection, comprising around 1,200 pieces, has since been expanded considerably with other donations and acquisitions.
Mrs Liedts wears a lace shawl, and the neckline of her dress is also trimmed in lace. This leads us, via her and her collection, to the theme of this room: how wealthy Bruges residents decorate their clothing with lace and also with embroidery and other accessories. We focus on the 1600s, 1700s, and the early 1800s.
Lace is used to decorate the edges of garments, sleeves and necklines. In Dutch, the edges are called 'kantjes', hence the word 'kant', meaning lace. Over the years, a complete range of lace evolves with various types of applications, successive fashions, new techniques and local traditions. In this room you will discover how versatile lace is, and how men and women have worn it. The portrait collection on the wall shows an impressive series of lace wearers, male and female. To this very day, Bruges is known all over the world as a proud centre of lace production.
What treasures are on display here? Cuffs, collars, hats, shawls, handkerchiefs, bonnets, fans, lappets...