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The Lace Museum is an antique lace and fashion museum located in Northville, Michigan –approximately 20 miles from the city of Detroit. The Museum is a smaller salon-style museum with a permanent collection that focuses on European and American lace and its influence on fashion and home décor during the 19th century. The Lace Museum was founded in 2012 by Detroit-native and curator Mary Gen Salmon who has extensive experience as both purveyor and merchant of lace throughout the United States. 

The Museum houses an extensive collection of Antique hand-made lace and fashion from Central Europe, Ireland, England, and the United States - including outstanding deaccession pieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The deYoung Museum, and The William Penn Museum. The Museum exhibits hand-made Lace, the tools of lacemaking, antique sewing machines, and antique/vintage textiles and clothing. The Museum also offers for sale fine antique lace, as well as antique/vintage textiles, linens, and clothing.

Our exhibits change approximately every 3 to 4 months. Setting Victorian exhibits is a difficult task, as most gowns of this era are strikingly small; this gown for an adult woman bears a 21 inch waistline. (above).

The Lace Museum exhibited at The Grosse Pointe Michigan Antique Show in November of 2018 and we plan on exhibiting again in November of 2019

The Museum entrance under construction in May of 2016.

Owner and Curator:

Mary Gen Salmon. BA. MA. JD

We opened the doors to THE LACE MUSEUM Detroit on November 18, 2016. Our first year, we welcomed nearly 1200 visitors to the Museum!

We have a nice collection of Vintage Gowns and Fashion accessories available in the Museum Store, such as this lovely mid-century Tablecloth

made into an evening gown. (below)

Ruth Adler-Schnee and lace dealer Debbie Jeramias peruse Ruth Adler-Schnee's Mother's Trosseau (on exhibit at The Lace Museum). A fascinating collection of French Laces brought to the United States from pre- WWII Germany.

The space was originally a large closet for janitorial supplies and machinery. (below)

After 6 months of preparation, we finally opened our doors to THE LACE MUSEUM Detroit on November 18, 2016. (below and right).

We are located on the Lower Level of Northville Square:

133 West Main Street Suite #160 Northville, Michigan 48167

Curator: Mary Gen Salmon

PH: (937) 681-7219

FAX# (734) 699-6907

HOURS OF OPERATION:

TUESDAYS 12:00 - 5:00pm

THURSDAYS 12:00 - 5:00pm

BY APPOINTMENT

SATURDAYS 12:00 -5:00pm

NO CHARGE FOR ADMISSION

Sales of Antique Lace, 

Linen, Textiles, and Clothing

WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR APPOINTMENTS.

Call or Email for available dates.

It was wonderful meeting the famous Detroit Textile Artist _

Ruth Adler-Schnee.

The Lace Museum now has her mother's Trousseau Collection brought to Detroit from 19th century Germany. It is currently being restored and pieces of the Trousseau are currently on display at The Museum as of April 2019.

Mary Gen Salmon (below and right) and her wonderful 91 year-old Irish Mother (below and left), who was a constant supporter of Mary Gen's dream of opening a Lace Museum. Grandma Geri, as all of the grand kids know her, taught Mary Gen not only the history and glory of Ireland , but also Ireland's contributions to the world of fine Linen. ….long live the appreciation for fine Antique Lace, Irish Linen, and Textiles!!

After Catholic Mass with my favorite person…..my Mother Geraldine!

A lot to smile about…..when antiquing on the East Coast: New York, Boston, and the countryside of Maine.

THE MAY BRIMFIELD MASSACHUSETTS ANTIQUE SHOW WAS A GREAT SUCCESS FOR 2017…..our 14th YEAR at BRIMFIELD!!

The show FLEA MARKET FLIP filmed at our Brimfield Tent during our May Show in 2017.

 It was a wonderful Show and again this year, we met new and interesting antique/vintage lace and textile enthusiasts!

The Lace Museum Detroit is a mere 1000 square feet, but with tall ceilings and ongoing organization, as well as the nature of rotating exhibits, it is a sufficient space to carefully exhibit many pieces of Antique Lace, Linen, and Antique Clothing.

A Pine Flax Break, dated 1870, is one of the tools of Flax Processing. Later, after the Spinning stage is complete, the term flax linen is used, which eventually become Linen Thread (above)

Cantù Lace, similar to this fabulous framed piece below, is a Bobbin Lace that may have originated in Northern Italy.....It is often rich with scrolls and tendrils in the background. This piece offers an opulent and bold male figure - perhaps a Conquistador or Nobleman. The thread used is a relatively heavy oatmeal-hued Linen, circa 1900 (perhaps earlier) (below).

                                                                       The Museum holds rotating exhibits of Victorian and Edwardian Clothing.

Irish Linen, and Linen Thread is considered some of the very finest Linen in the world due, in large part, to the cool climate of Ireland that allows the finest Flax production. In the Victorian Era, Barbour's Thread was some of  the most well-know. (below).

Italian Lace artists in Florence produced the most exquisite an

 varied lace in the world. Not only did The Florence Lace 

Manufactory create Italian Lace, but French and English Lace

as well. (below).

English Lace-making Cookie-shape Pillow stuffed with Horse Hair in the process of designing Needle Lace Floral Medallions or Motifs, circa 1890 (above).

The Museum has available for purchase Antique/Vintage Clothing.

The Lace Museum, Detroit exhibits magnificent Victorian and Edwardian Era Table Linens, some of which are for sale.

The Lace Museum Detroit also has on exhibit a few very early sewing machines, such as this beautiful Willcox and Gibbs chainstitch sewing machine, circa 1890.

PHOTO GALLERY IN SEARCH OF LACE (below)

Mother and Daughter Mary and Elyse Salmon and colleagues Judy and Nancy traveling throughout Europe....IN SEARCH OF LACE....

Mother and Daughter, Mary and Elyse Salmon, and Judy Cogan.....American Women....IN SEARCH OF LACE

We traveled France, Holland, and precious Belgium this year 2018......watch for our upcoming articles in preparation for our book on the history and adventures IN SEARCH OF LACE 

PHOTO GALLERY IN SEARCH OF LACE (below)

Mother and Daughter Mary and Elyse Salmon and colleagues Judy and Nancy traveling throughout Europe....IN SEARCH OF LACE....

Paris, France; Brussels and Brugges, Belgium; Cantu and Milan, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Amsterdam...... 

(Calligraphy kindly provided by Belgian artist Calligrapher Yves Leterme, a professional calligrapher and lettering artist, ​living near the fair city of Bruges, Belgium).

The Lace Museum, Detroit: Proud Member of The International Organization of Lace, Inc., Great Lakes Lace Group Inc. and Kantcentrum Brugges, Belgium.

www.thelacemuseumllc.com        Curator: Mary Gen Salmon PH. 937. 681.7219  

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