Note 355 — Part 7.

Mrs. Bayman (late Superintendent in the School of Art Needlework) writes thus: “I see no reason to doubt that the word guipure is derived from ‘guipa’ or ‘guiper,’ a ribbon-weaver’s term for spinning one thread round another; and that guipure was originally more like what we now call ‘guimp,’ or like ‘point de Raguse,’ first being made of thread, of more or less thickness and commoner material, wound round with a finer flax, silk, or metal; then they cut shapes, bold scrolls, and leaves out of cartisane, vellum, or parchment, winding and covering them over with the more precious thread. These figures were then connected by brides, only as close as was required to hold them together, and leaving large open spaces, thus forming the large scroll patterns seen in so many old pictures.” No doubt the heavy “Fogliami” and “Rose point” laces developed themselves from these still older kinds of point. As the cord and card lace disappeared, the name slid on to all laces with large, bold patterns and open brides, though the special method which first created it had been effaced. Latterly, embroidered netting or laces have been called “guipure d’art.” Littré gives the derivation of the word; he says it is from the Gothic Vaipa, or German Weban or Weben (g and p replacing the w and b).