Antique fluffy Belgian bobbin lace cross & vintage seashell card

An antique purchased in Italy.
A small, lightly thin 17cm square handkerchief, likely Belgian, with a soft, fluffy texture.
(Can be used as a coaster, napkin, cocktail cloth, or square cloth)
Comes with a set of vintage American cards.

The trim of this bobbin lace piece, dating from around the 18th-19th century, is delicate and beautiful, possibly from Flanders. The design resembles needle lace. It features abstract and intriguing motifs such as buildings with windows, the moon, ribbons, and plants.

Drawn thread work (ladder lace embroidery) is coolly interspersed within the trim.

The lace is clear, elegant, and soft. The delicate picot lace along the entire edge is also charming.

The color is a gentle ecru, imbued with the passage of time, a graceful ivory.

It can be folded very thinly, lightly, and small, making it suitable as a decorative pocket square.

The fabric is a fine-count, sheer, thin weave. It is extremely smooth and soft, with a fluffy, melt-in-your-hand feel. The fabric material is presumed to be high-quality cotton. The embroidery thread is likely cotton or a cotton-linen blend.

Please excuse any errors in the amateur measurements below.

① Lace
Approximately 17.3cm per side (fabric portion is just over 14cm)
Approximately 2g
It is clean with no stains or dirt, but there are two areas with overcasting marks.

② 1959 Vintage American Card
Height 13.2cm x Width 8.2cm
Features a message in cursive to encourage a friend who has experienced hardship.

The lace can be used as a background to display cards or other small items, or as a square doily for displaying small dolls or objects.

We recommend not bleaching the item, as it may alter its color and texture. If it does get dirty, we suggest quickly washing the entire piece with (natural) soap and drying it immediately.

Small bobbins are used to create the threads, forming an outline relief that stands out from the lacy base.

Belgian lace, a traditional art craft, is said to have spread from Binche/Brugge and Mechelen in the 16th century to Flanders in the 19th century. The actual motifs are open to interpretation.

Other items with clearer motifs are also available:
Antique Belgian Flanders Bobbin Lace Trim, Drawn Thread Work, Modified Doily

A different item of the same type:
Antique Italian Purchase, Fluffy Belgian Bobbin Lace Embroidery, Square Cloth