It is a complex subject as much involved with the type of lace the East
Midland makers were engaged in as it is with the design of the bobbins and
the addition of spangles.
We can look at the Normandy style of bobbins and see a lot of the East
midland characteristics in them (In fact very beautiful bobbins, well
turned, often carved and sometimes coloured) But basically they were never
spangled.
[Oh dear I had better slow down, I find myself writing a paper on it!]
Then there is the design of the pillows that were in use, this has to be
taken into account.
Tension of the lace? Folks like to debate that.
Dating of the bead spangles. Most interesting, but they were used for trade
for many years before we guess that spangling came about.
I did write a paper about my theories a few years ago and it got "shot down"
because of many of the things that I have mentioned above... so my origin of
spangles idea = failed! :(
I still cling to my idea (do not all idiots hang on to what appears to be a
lost cause... like "I know best")
I can show you a row of James (I think) Compton wooden bobbins unspangled
(and the important thing about this is that they were un drilled for
spangles) and almost an identical row of bobbins by the same maker, this
time spangled.
The significance of the bobbins being drilled or undrilled is that , whereas
today we can drill a hole easily, in those days it was difficult; not
everyone had access to an Archimedean drill (the drill in use at that time)
or even a small diameter drill. Using a hot needle to burn it through was
an alternative. My point is, why buy undrilled bobbins if you intend to
spangle them?
So I hang on to the hypothesis that the "time of the changeover from plain
to spangled bobbins" was when the Compton(?) family were making bobbins.
I fully admit that I am not a lace maker and know nothing about many of the
"ifs and buts" listed above; but from a bobbin historians view point, this
is the best bet, from what I know at this point of time.
PS I cant find the pictures at the moment so the "Compton" thing is a little
uncertain in my memory. I do have the pictures and if not I know some one
who has the pictures! I will even have my original article somewhere (Oh, to
be blessed with an organizational ability!)
I will look out the article and offer it to any one who may be interested in
lost causes!
I have also written an article about "drilling holes for spangles" old days
of course, it just enlarges a bit on what I have said above about drilling.
There is one lady who is an academic... Carole Morris (just dragged her name
back into my addled brain) I believe she has some good theories on this
topic but I have never been able to attend her talks or see what she may
have published on the subject. I hold her ideas in high regard as she has
the discipline of academia behind her.
I have said my bit; now I will search for the original article..
From Brian and Jean
Cooranbong. Australia
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