Hi Clay:
I'm normally the most suspicious antiques shopper you'd ever see, and I'd certainly politely ask the seller for the provenance of the bobbin if I were going to bid on it. It would be interesting to see what the seller said.
I'd also check what the seller means by "16th-century" because a lot of people think that means the 1600s, not the 1500s.
If by "dug" the seller means that this bobbin was lying on its own in the open ground for a few centuries, I'd agree that the condition is entirely too good for that. But, it could have been found inside the floor of a 16th century home, for example, in which case it would be dirty and dry but not necessarily otherwise damaged.
For shape, I don't think it's out of range for a bobbin from the 1600s, and maybe even the 1500s, because we have so little information on bobbin shapes from that time.
Re: the turning: yes, it's true lacemaking was still in its early stages, but not lathe-turning. Craftsmen had been making weaving bobbins for centuries, ditto fine turnings for a number of other wooden implements. So I don't think that argument stands up too well.
But, I'd still join you in the skeptical line, though with an open mind ;0)
Adele North Vancouver, BC (west coast of Canada)
Clay wrote:
I came across the following on ebay today:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=114&item=6112829488
Now, I must say I'm VERY skeptical. (1) 16th century? says who?? This is an awfully sophisticated turning for a bobbin used in an art form which was merely decades old at the time. (2) for a "dug" bobbin, the sharp edges of the turnings are awfully crisp and clean... (3) dug from *where*??? this bobbin doesn't look like anything I'm familiar with from "way back"...
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