Three entre-deux and one carré in Chebka lace, North Africa, - Lot 129

Three entre-deux and one carré in Chebka lace, North Africa, late 19th/early 20th century. Three borders in mint condition, two with their starting threads, and an inlay square, never used, cream-colored cotton. Two very finely crafted borders, Dim. 2.20 m x 5 cm (very good condition, a few pale freckles) and 1.55 m x 2.5 cm (very good condition, a connection at 38 cm), one border Dim. 2.30 m x 6 cm (very good condition) and one square Dim. 11 x 11 cm (a small hole in the center). Chebka lace is a needle-knotted stitch originating in North Africa, first practiced in Tunisia by individual women in the form of entre-deux to adorn their traditional garments, then developed in Algeria and Morocco under the impetus of missionary nuns. These geometrically-patterned entre-deux were made directly between two strips of fabric, then later between two thin strips of backing that served as selvedges and were attached to a cushion or a strip of paper. Initially made with a needle, these fine selvedges were later replaced by mechanical laces or by a simple seam on the paper. The French protectorate encouraged the development of this technique, which found an important outlet on the French market throughout the 1st half of the 20th century. Chebka lace creations adapted to this market, producing items such as collars, bibs and doilies.