About

All our textile tours and tea parties are hosted by the owner of the Antique Lace Lady website: Ann Davey.

Learn a little about Ann’s lace background here:-

‘I have been dealing in lace and related textiles for well over 25 years in London. During this time, I have amassed a collection of antique lace, needlework and accessories that represent many techniques, styles of lace, and periods of lace making and needlework. I originally come from Dorset, and so have a particular love of lace from the neighbouring county of Devon, and (of course) handmade Dorset buttons.

Not personally a lace maker (although I do enjoy needle crafts, such as needlepoint and knitting) I admire the craftsmanship of handmade lace and needlework, and love its history and beauty.

For over 10 years I ran a stall selling antique lace, textiles and linens in London’s famous Portobello Road Market. I then took a stall in Alfies Antiques Market, Marylebone, which I ran for 8 years. Over the years I have also sold at many major U.K. markets, for instance at Kempton Park (where I traded in the main hall for many years), Newark, Ardingly, Bath etc

I was also invited to sell antique lace at Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan, on two occasions, and twice more I held my own selling events in Tokyo. On one of these occasions I gave a talk on antique lace as part of the Kagurazaka Festival, Tokyo.

In all my Japanese lace adventures I have been helped immensely by my friend Yasuko, with whom I ran the CreamTeaClub.com website from the year 2000 onwards, selling lace and accessories online.

I no longer deal actively in antique textiles but keep my love of lace and needlework alive by continuing to collect and by giving these talks.’

Ann, featured in a Japanese ladies magazine. 1999.

Visit the Textile Talks Itinerary Page for information about our London Events. 

Textile Talks Itinerary Page

Group Enquiries

For enquiries about private textile tours

and other events please click here.