Yale University Press - Threads of Power: Lace Book

Explore one of the world's finest collections of historical lace with Threads of Power: Lace from the Textilmuseum St. Gallen. Published by Yale University Press, this book traces the history of European lace from its sixteenth-century origins to the present day. It examines how lace shaped fashion and served as a symbol of status across different eras. The text investigates the use of lace in royal courts, such as Bourbon France and Habsburg Spain, while also looking at its role among the elite ruling classes and Indigenous peoples in the Spanish Americas. Featuring new research, this publication provides a detailed look at the development of these textile traditions and their lasting impact on global fashion history.