Neuchâtel lace

For many years the canton of Neuchâtel was renowned for its lacemaking industry. As far back as the 17^th century, Neuchâtel lace was much sought after among ladies from European high society. Back then, the industry employed five or six times more people than the local watching industry. Neuchâtel lace is a light-coloured bobbin lace made from linen or silk, also referred to as “blond”. It uses a specific stitch, which distinguishes it from other types of lace work. The patterns changed according to the fashion of the day, from Mechlin to Valenciennes and Binches, to name but a few of the many quirkily-named patterns. However, the lacemakers of Neuchâtel, who were always willing to try something new, wholeheartedly embraced these changes. The decline of the local lace-making industry was hastened by the arrival of mechanical lace-making from England in 1830 and by a fall in demand for lace. Today, lacemaking is a purely leisure pursuit, but nevertheless remains inextricably linked with this illustrious past. Although the original techniques are rarely taught nowadays, they have survived thanks to a handful of dedicated lacemakers, who manage to rework old models, draw inspiration from them, and even create brand-new lace work from the originals. Several museums celebrate this craftsmanship, including the Château de Valangin, the Musée paysan de la Chaux-de-Fonds and the Musée régional du Val-de-Travers.