Old frills - help with lace please

They would have acted as a collar/ decoration around the neck.
These were in the days when clothes weren’t washed as much as they are now.
It meant you only had to wash that piece.

I think what you call side slits are part of the overall pattern and were not intended to serve any other purpose than being decorative.

A museum that has a fashion or clothes section might very well be pleased to receive this sort of thing, Or one that has an exhibition of sewing, embroidery, lace-making etc.

Do you have any details about how old these frills are, or where they were made?

Hi Petra, l understand what they are for, l just haven't seen any with splits before. As you say AuntieE they may be purely decorative but l think they may slip over epaulettes,
The split collar is a very distinctive ecru colour and l have a scarf and handkerchief that match it, l think they may be silk.
When l bought my current house l inadvertently bought the contents, belonging to the previous owner, an very well to do 90 year old spinster.
I actually feel some responsibility for various articles from her life, which is why l don't just want to discard the lace items, I do not think the collars would have been hers, but probably one of her family.
There are far newer ones, plain linen, bought from Broadbents in Southport (department store, I've researched it). They aren't so interesting. I shall see if l can find a clothing museum that might be interested in them.
I also have many pairs of vintage gloves, far too small for modern day hands but some exquisitely made.

The Headquarters of the Lace Guild is in Stourbridge. They may be able to help. They open at 10 tomorrow.
Tel: 01384 390739
Address: They Lace Guild , The Hollies, 53 Audnum, Wordsley, Stourbridge, DY8 4AE

OldFrill
If you take a screenshot then search Google images, bring up your photos and you might see something there.

I don't know how big the piece with the slits in is, but if it's big it may be that it's the sort where you thread one end through the other somehow (like a scarf)...

To me though it does look as though it's actually ripped as it's not symmetrical.
I have lace which has pulled apart along particular parts of the design where it's obviously weaker.
Still lovely though.

I have had old textiles looked at by the V&A. You send photos and they tell you if they are interested in the item or not.

Many years ago I gifted a lot of items to one of the Manchester museums... I think they will know if they are "special" or not.

Easier option is to use Google’s excellent “Search what you see” function - point your phone at the item and hit the icon that looks like a frame or camera on the RH side of the Search box. All the entries that match then come up. Extremely useful!

Those are beautiful “OldFrill”.

NotSpaghetti
Expanding the photo you can see that they have been cut out.

Then they probably thread through like a scarf

Thank you so much everyone for your responses, so kind
I had already done a cursory Google lens search but it brings up too many similar results.
I've wrapped them all back in the tissue paper and put them away. I'll contact a museum when I've more time and let you know what happens.

Why not sell them on ebay? I have done this with a variety of old lace collars and other antique clothing items that I inherited and I got good prices for them.

Most museums will not be itnerested in these items unless they can be connected with someon well known local person or, for any reason they are especially rare and made locally.

I might try that Monica, thanks. Maybe better to donate the money than the lace.