Oh! The stories to tell! Two Maine lace makers went down to the Whipple House (Colonial Period historic property owned by the Ipswich Historical Society) to view lace years ago. The "curator" was contacted in advance, so we were expected. We were shown to an upper room, where short cuts of black Ipswich Laces reconstructed years before by Michael Auclair, were arranged on a dusty, sunny window sill. They were in dirty cellophane wraps, and there were silverfish present. Horrors! We'll never forget it. Across the street was a Victorian era house, also owned by the Historical Society. We went to take a look. There was an elderly male docent. We were able to see some framed embroideries in the period rooms, then asked if we could go upstairs. The docent did not go with us. In the large hallway at the top of the stairs there was an arrangement of antique toys. There were antique embroidered samplers hung on the walls. Sun was pouring in the windows. No thought to fading samplers or to people handling the toys. Historical property officers and volunteers change with the years. This was a bad period, offering much to learn about levels of responsibility. Yes, the New England Lace Group sometimes volunteers here, but they would have no real say in what happens to the lace collection. Since our visit, the lace collection from the late Michael Auclair has been donated. He was a personal friend of mine in New York in the 1970-80's, a fellow member of the now-defunct Lace Guild of New York, where we could meet the lace experts from New York's museums and visiting lace scholars from around the world, and attend wonderful lace conservation lectures. A couple years ago, I went to the Library of Congress to see their examples of Ipswich Lace with a group that attended the International Old Lacers convention. We were able to see the real things - lace examples that were sent shortly after the Revolutionary War to illustrate a lace "industry" in Ipswich and correspondence. No other industry made something that could be sent by mail to the new government. The Library showed us books, but they were rather dull. The original lace samples were worth seeing, but I think it is quite rare to bring them out for viewing. Three staff members were in the room to protect these treasurers. "The Laces of Ipswich" by Marta Cotterell Raffel, 156 pages, University Press of New England, $25, is worth owning, if you are American. In addition to history and photographs, there are 6 lace prickings/patterns in the book. At time of publication there was a Arachne discussion about the footsides of the lace being inconsistent, so be prepared for that. There was an article in the OIDFA Bulletin 3 - 2010 about this lace. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center -------------------------------------------------------- I visited the Ipswich Museum a couple years ago, and was disappointed. I went without any prior arrangements.... I wonder what the Library of Congress can provide. I was on the IOLI Convention, Bethesda trip to see the laces there ...but I don't know what an individual could see with prior arrangement. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
>Diane wrote: >The Whipple House Museum in Ipswich is supposed to have a collection of >Ipswich lace. Unfortunately they don't have any photos on their website that >I can find. It's on my bucket list to visit there some day. >http://ipswichmuseum.drupalgardens.com/exhibitions-collections/whipple-hous e - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
