Dear Lace Historians, There is something very confusing about the way this discussion is going. My Thomas Wright book, a 1982 reprint from the publisher Ruth Bean, has a picture facing page 37 of two long boat-shaped pieces of lace that I imagine would stretch from shoe top or ankle to below the knee (think of the shape of a tatting shuttle, only elongated). The exact caption is: "Periwinkle Pattern "Two Stocking Fronts. Lent to the Exhibition of Paris, 1914. At the time the Germans came near Paris, these fronts and other specimens of lace were bricked up in the cellars of the Louvre for safety. Stocking fronts were used in Queen Elizabeth's day. See p. 40." Text leading up to page 40 is about the August 24, 1572, Massacre of St. Bartholomew when 75,000 to 100,000 (Protestant) Huguenots in Paris and other towns of France were slaughtered. Many survivors escaped to England from that time until 1598 and the Edict of Nantes. The escaping lacemakers came primarily from Lille and surrounding area. They settled in Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, joining Mechlin workers from Flanders already relocated there. Throughout her life Queen Elizabeth would have been wearing a lot of lace. She died at age 70, in 1603. On p. 40, the text mentions that a fashion of the period was the use of stocking fronts made of lace. Nowhere in the book (that I could find) does it say the pictured stocking fronts are from the Tudor/Elizabethan times. The stocking fronts pictured in the book look to me like they would have been sewn into place on pre-made stockings of a much later period than that of Queen Elizabeth. Now, those who love the **history of costume** - which it is helpful to study to understand why lace was made in such vast quantities - know that clothing of the period of Queen Elizabeth was made in pieces that were either loosely sewn to the main parts of a garment, or were pinned in place. (This is pre-buttons, pre-hooks, pre-snaps, pre-zippers, pre-Velcro.) This way, they could be attached to different garments with ease. To understand more about putting together costume elements, go to the highly-regarded publications by the late Janet Arnold. (You can search her name.) In closing, I have to ask: Why not have very extravagant clothing, including lace stockings, to distinguish the Queen from other people? Men were wearing lace shoe roses, lace knee sashes, and lining the inside tops of wide-cuffed boots with laces! Consult portraits of the period to confirm. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center ----------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 11/22/2010 3:37:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, aurel...@earthlink.net writes:
I should think that it would have been the editor's job to disentangle this puzzle. But what a nice idea, "stocking fronts." Still, in those days of floor-length dresses, I would hope that ornamental stockings were at the bottom of every- body's to-do list. Aurelia -----Original Message----- >From: Alex Stillwell <alexstillw...@talktalk.net> >Sent: Nov 21, 2010 2:01 AM >To: stevieni...@gmail.com >Cc: Diana Smith <dian...@tiscali.co.uk>, Arachne reply <lace@arachne.com> >Subject: [lace] Lace stocking front > >Hi Natalie > >There is picture of two stocking fronts in 'The Romance of the Lace Pillow' >by Thomas Wright. In my edition they are in volume 1, opposite page 37. >However, there is something not quite right about the caption. It says >stocking fronts were used in Queen Elizabeth's day. However, these have the >periwinkle pattern worked in Regency Bucks and I believe this was a Victorian >development of Bucks point lace. Perhaps these are not stocking fronts after >all. Diana Smith has the prickings for these. Can you add any more information >Diana? > >Keep lacemaking > >Alex - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
