Madame Goubaud's Guipure Patterns, by Madame Elisa
Goubaud, published by Ward, Lock, and Tyler, Paternoster Row, London -
printed by Leighton Bros. Printers, 1870, First Edition — 63 pages —
illustrated throughout, and 2 fold-out color plates — measures: 5 1/8" x
7" — OCLC No. 8340848
Synopsis:
Madame Goubaud's Guipure Patterns, published in London by Ward, Lock,
and Tyler in 1870, is a practical and decorative manual presenting a
curated collection of guipure lace designs and patterns for home
dressmaking and embellishment. The volume combines clear, engraved
pattern plates with concise explanatory text guiding readers through the
construction and application of guipure motifs—characterized by
detached, connected cords and motifs rather than a net ground—so they
can be adapted to collars, cuffs, trimmings, and garments. Emphasizing
both aesthetic taste and technical instruction, the book addresses
stitch sequence, recommended materials, and proportioning of motifs to
different garment parts, making it useful to amateur needleworkers and
professional dressmakers alike. The overall tone is instructional yet
focused on style: patterns reflect contemporary Victorian fashions,
offering ornate floral and geometric motifs suited to the era’s emphasis
on detailed surface decoration. As a practical handbook, it serves to
disseminate fashionable lacework techniques to a broad readership,
bridging artisan skill and domestic craft.