The Romance of Lace, a Valentine's Exhibit at the Tehachapi Museum

This month, many lacy cards will change hands to celebrate Valentine's Day. To celebrate, an exhibit of vintage Valentines will be on view February 2 for First Friday at the Tehachapi Museum. Another exhibit features several garments and samples of many types of lace. The featured jacket from the 1800s is made entirely of handmade lace that includes several types of lace and delicate stitching, made to fit a petite Victorian silhouette. It is astounding in its detail and shows the many hours of work that went into its creation.

Nearby, another showcase shows several dresses from different eras that show the elegant use of lace on collars as trimming. The beauty of lace has endured in its popularity, especially for wedding gowns. Brides have continued their love affair with lace. The luxury and romance of lace has secured its place as one of the most cherished embellishments of all time.

Lace was first developed in Europe during the sixteenth century. It has always been an expensive luxury item because of its painstaking, time-consuming production. Lace styles evolved throughout the centuries in response to changes in fashion. Both men and women wore lace from its inception to the eighteenth century. Today, some lace is still produced in Europe, especially Belgium, but much of the world's machine made lace comes from either Asia or New Jersey.

Much of the lace produced today retains the beautiful designs and fine workmanship of the original. It was often the most costly part of a dress and reflected the sophisticated tastes of the aristocracy. Lace adorned women's and men's collars and cuffs, draped women's shoulders, hands, and heads, covered entire gowns, and decorated furnishings.

Treats, wine, and champagne will be served on February First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The Valentine's exhibits will be on view throughout the month of February. Regular hours are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The Tehachapi Museum is located at 311 South Green Street and the Errea House Museum is across the street and keeps the same hours. For more information, call Charles White at (661) 972-0958.