A comprehensive French-language illustrated reference on handmade lace of all countries, from its origins to the early 20th century, published under the patronage of the Brussels lace trade association. It opens with the precursors of lace (netting, drawn-thread and cutwork embroidery, tulle embroidery) and with the vocabulary of lace parts (grounds, brides, picots, modes, brodes). It then classifies and describes bobbin laces (torchon, Cluny, guipure, Bruges and Brussels duchesse, Valenciennes, Lille, Chantilly, Mechlin, Binche) and needle laces (point coupé, Venise, Alençon, Sedan, point gaze, Milan, Teneriffe), plus tulle embroidery, Irish crochet and applied lace. About 95 numbered plates of photographed specimens, each with an explanation, accompany the text.