A very rare, airy antique Azorean lace round doily featuring a floral design, from the Azores Islands of Portugal. This item is offered with a small blue linen cloth (as shown in the image) for framing. Handmade using a very fine, lightweight, special thread, this bobbin lace is airy and soft, with a captivating texture that seems to hold air. Both sides have a similar appearance. The plump, puffy motifs, like the fluffy baby's breath, evoke images of soft, fine snow, or fresh snow. They might also resemble the fine snow or wispy clouds hanging in the sky, or the cirrocumulus clouds, or even dandelion fluff floating across a meadow in the wind. The delicate, multi-layered scallops spread out from a flower reminiscent of a Western dahlia. It's impossible to accurately count how many layers there are, but even broadly speaking, there are more than ten layers of petals, creating delicate lines and clusters of thread that are quite fancy. The thread is likely cotton, linen, or a cotton and linen blend. While the softness suggests cotton, the slight firmness and crispness also hint at linen. Despite its diameter of approximately 17 cm, it weighs less than 1 gram. One can't help but be filled with awe, imagining the time spent, the skill and technique employed to weave this piece, passing the incredibly fine thread through tiny needle holes. The natural scenery and poetic sentiment also come to mind, making this a lyrical work that deeply touches the heart as you gaze upon it. The following measurements are approximate due to amateur measurement; please excuse any errors. Diameter: Approximately 17+ cm to 16.7 cm Weight: Approximately 0.8g The color is a slightly tinted ecru, off-white. It appears to have been used or handled in the past. There is one defect, a tear on the rim. It has been repaired with very fine thread within an area of approximately 7.8 cm wide x 5 mm high. The repair thread is also quite fine, but it is an ivory tone compared to the original thread. There is also a connection/support of about 3 cm in height. There are two areas of light brown discoloration on the rim, which are faint on the reverse side, measuring 1 cm x 6 mm and 2 mm x 3 mm, respectively. Within one of the repair marks, the original thread remains folded over in a loop of 16 mm x 2, suggesting that the thread was carefully preserved without being cut. This is not visible when turned over. Azorean lace itself is rare, and it is difficult to find pieces in perfect condition. Even with the imperfections and repairs, the extremely intricate and delicate handwork shines, bringing a unique and unparalleled example of traditional technique to the present day. The repairs seem to have somewhat restored the original composition and shape.