mem_somerville reviewed Milanese lace by Patricia Read
Nice introduction diagrams and basic patterns
Very much a technical book, this has nice large black and white diagrams and explanations of the typical stitches. It has some prickings for both the traditional floral and scrollwork kinds of pieces. There are some non-traditional figures like a palm tree, parrot, peasant girl, mermaid, a nice Madonna and Child, that sort of thing. I liked the cockatoo.
Some bits seem a little dated today--like the geisha is a little....um....appropriated? Supplier lists are of course long obsolete.
But there are definitely many useful examples with high quality motifs and shapes.
It doesn't have any real historical research or that kind of background, so it's not a reference book of that sort.