European Lace exhibition

The European Lace exhibition, organized under the auspices of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2021, in collaboration with the Embassies of the European Union, the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and the The Camões Institute of Portugal presents representative pieces from each participating country. From June 10 to 30, 2021 (Open daily to the public from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm). Lefkara Lace and Goldsmith Museum (Patsaalou House, Pano Lefkara). France

exhibits a Breton headdress from the Aven region in Brittany. This peninsula located at the western end of France is culturally rich, thanks to the uniqueness of its languages, dances, music and sartorial heritage.

Brittany has more than 60 different clothing styles, including this one from the Pyas de l’Aven, one of the great regions of Cornouaille, occupying the entire south-eastern part of Finistère. The headdress presented at the Museum of Lace and Goldsmithing in Lefkara is an assembly of pieces of cotton lace worn by the women of this geographical area. It was worn by Marie GUIFFANT on 08/18/1897. You can see Mme GUIFFANT on the photo (first woman in costume lower right) at her daughter's wedding on June 6, 1955.

With a complex architecture, it consists of two wings and two chin straps pinned high and attached to a cap. It must be starched before ironing to acquire hold. It was Charlène Francès, employee collar and headdress ironer of the Kenleur Penn-Ar-Bed federation, who starched, ironed and mounted this headdress for this exhibition.

It was given to the BretagneS Endowment Fund by Jean-Yves HERVE and to Mrs. Annie GUIVARC'H, grandchildren of Mrs. GUIFFANT.