Learn more about Vamberk Bobbin Lace

Typical Czech tradition is Vamberk Bobbin Lace – Vamberecka krajka. Many Czech people are proud of owning this wonderful lace at home. It is a Czech heritage which has a long tradition.

Vamberecka krajka is one of the Seven Wonders of the Czech Republic. Czech people are proud of this tradition. The oldest writing reference to the bobbin lace in Vamberk originated from 1642, when the Belgian aristocrat Magdalena Grambov, who owned the local dominion, brought absolute innovation – Belgian lace patterns. Furthermore, she established a new way of lace-making on a small pillow (herdule). She made Vamberk a European center of lace-making manufacture because of her organizational and mercantile abilities.

Materials for producing lace were nettle, cotton and silk thread, but also gold and silver Dracon. At first, lace makers made easy patterns and then converted into complicated ones. Lace-makers devised new unusual patterns, which they exchanged. The designs were handed down from generation to generation.

The height of manufacturing Vamberk’s laces was in the 19th century. From the ability to produce lace and creation arose of a high – yield business.  In Vamberk people could not find any house, where bobbin lace was not made. In 1889 in Vamberk, a lace-making school was established, wherein the first half of the 20th century  up to 50 schoolgirls were enrolled annually.

During the last half of the 19th century around 2000 households pursued lace-making, at the beginning of the 20th century 6000 people made lace, in the second half of 20th-century industrialization began and therefore, lace-making was not so popular, during the Second World War people could find only 900 lace makers.

On the 11th of May 1946 was founded the art cooperation Vamberecka krajka Vamberk. The main target was to follow in the folk tradition and related it to modern art production.  In 2003 was another company Vamberecka krajka CZ s.r.o. was founded.

In the 20th-century lace-making cooperation Vamberecká krajka Vamberk obtained a high standard, when it  presented its brand VKV at the exhibitions and world’s trade shows. At EXPO 58 in Brussel Vamberecka krajka Vamberk achieved gold and silver medals. In 1967 in Montreal it won again.

Lace so-called threaded (nitěné), striped (páskové), torchenské, vláčkové and variation of Brussels originate from the surrounding of Vamberk.

Vlackova krajka is very typical. It is a multi-colored lace made of fine yarn on tylove soil (net). Labeling is derived from “pulling” of the thread from right to left and the other way around. The podvinek is gouged out of the net and the original pattern of vlackove lace bobbin lace made from memory. To make bobbin lace cotton, linen and nettle yarns were used. The vlackove lace was attributed to flowery, harp, curly and many others.

Since 1929 the Museum of lace in Vamberk has existed, where tourists can admire collections of surviving original products.

In these days Vamberk’s lace can accommodate a customer’s needs of patterns, colors and sizes which are possible to make to order, and the companies can produce a unique design.