THE FINEST CHRISTENING ROBE IN THE WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 745, 11 June 1886, Page 4

THE FINEST CHRISTENING ROBE IN THE WORLD.

The christening dress of the first-born of the young Princess di Galatro Colonna (nee Miss Eva Mackay) is perhaps the most unique specimen extant of the finest point d'Alencon lace of great beauty and rarity. The dress, made as a loose slip, is bordered with antique lace a quarter of a yard in width, the remainder of the garment being woven to correspond, and having the arms of the Colonna family designed in lace-work upon the coraage. The same lace trims the cloak of cream-white crepid chine. The Duchesse de Mourlay (Princess Anna Murat) declared that the dress surpassed in beauty the famous christening robe of the late Prince Imperial. The lace is the most superb that has been seen in Paris for years. Evea the wedding flounces of the Queen Regent of Spain cannot be compared to it. Mrs Mackay the mother of the princess, has a collection of lace that surpasses any of the Royal houses in Europe—so it is said at any rate. She posseses the celebrated tunic and flounce in point d'Alencon manufactured for the Empress Eugenie in 1869, and left in her flight from Paris. This lace wa3 copied from a piece originally in possession of Mdme. de Pompadour. But the layette of the young Roman princeling was made and furnished in California, at the Ladies' Repository of San Francisco, of which institution Mrs Mackay is a directress. It is remarkable chiefly for the exquisite fineness of the materials and the delicacy of the work, Valenciennes lace being the chief trimming employed. Some of the embroidery on the flannel skirts and blankets is the work of a lady over 70 years of age, and is of great beauty. The basket is shaped like a shell, and is bordered with a white lace ruffle. —Globe.