While most lace handkerchiefs consist of a woven fabric with a wide lace border, this example is made entirely of bobbin lace, a specialty of the Convent of Notre Dame de Visitation in Ghent. In 1852 Sister Marie-Joseph patented a new style of lace, now called Ghent Lace with Varied Ground, making it possible to employ workers of varying skill levels and to assemble large pieces quickly using motifs that could be prepared ahead of time. The use of the royal monogram of King Leopold II and the repetition of the crown motif suggest that this handkerchief was made in celebration of his ascent to the throne in 1865. It may have been a presentation piece for his wife, Marie-Henriette, who was a patroness of both the convent and the Belgian lace industry.
