Brussels Lace, from reality to fiction

Exhibition 23.04.04 > 31.12.04

For almost three centuries, Brussels was one of the most important centres for lace production in Europe. Brussels lace is renowned throughout the Western world owing to the quality of its designs and embroidery.

Today, Brussels lace no longer exists.

After World War I, real handmade lace succumbed to the competition of mechanical lace. The last Brussels manufacturers closed their doors between the two World Wars.

Exposition Dentelle de Bruxelles, de la réalité à la fiction_Musée Mode & Dentelle ©Y.Peeters-A.Dohet

An exhibition on Brussels lace

The exhibition Brussels Lace, from reality to fiction was held in Brussels in 2004. It was the first exhibition of its kind, entirely devoted to Brussels lace.

This temporary exhibition presented a remarkable range of techniques, decorations and applications of Brussels lace. In total, more than one hundred masterpieces were on show. This included a large number of unique items.

The exhibits (costumes, accessories, fashion prints, photos) were part of the Museum’s own collections.