Over the years, Godelieve Vroom built up an important collection of lace from the region of Antwerp (Antwerp, Mechelen, Turnhout), dating from the 16th to the 20th century. Her own expertise as a lacemaker enabled her to collect pieces, some of which are very rare, that evoke different styles and techniques. This major collection will enable further in-depth research to be carried out on the development of lace in Antwerp.
The collection includes strips of lace, headdresses, bodices, handkerchiefs and collars in lace. Among the key pieces are a headdress from the end of the 16th century and a pillowcase in bobbin lace from the mid-17th century.
Fascinated by textiles from her childhood, it was in the 1980s that Godelieve Vroom discovered her passion for lace. With her children grown up, she had the opportunity to study in bobbin lace for 6 years. Her end of study thesis was on Antwerp lace. She then became a volunteer at the de Vrieselhof Textile Museum, which is the MoMu today, where she did demonstrations for visitors and helped with the archiving and sorting of patterns, sketches and samples. In later years, Godelieve Vroom volunteered in various other institutions that dealt with Antwerp lace. Her expertise and research led her to contributing to numerous publications on the subject, as well as to her developing an international reputation as a lacemaker and specialist in antique lace.
Godelieve donated her collection of lace to the King Baudouin Foundation in 2019 to ensure its future. The collection will be entrusted to the MoMu, where she contributed so much and for so long as a volunteer.
