We hear of Nuns or the lady of the manor teaching children to make lace way
back. most that I have heard from (partly during family history research are
often daughters of agricultural workers, wives or agricultural workers or
similar).
Lots of novels I read mention a nurse who tats, miles of tatting waiting for
someone to marry and then use it on their bedding or whatever:) I have
heard mention of tambour work, and embroidery by ladies of leisure, white
work done by the young wives of a family. We see paintings with the lady
holding a fairly large tatting shuttle but I have never seen a large
portrait with bobbin lace pillow included. As you say it is usually the
lower classes. There are of course, small pictures of ladies making bobbin
lace.
Sue T
Dorset UK
As usual, I am indebted to Arachne members for their response to my
question.
1. Most agreed with my proposed new motto about how much we DO NOT
know. All agreed.
2. It was suggested that our study of bobbins (basically relating from
Springett's book) is dealing with the high end of lace making.
3. This what the Arachne member said to me : Yes, I would love to know
how low paid workers got their mitts on ivory mother and babes. I am
suspecting that the "middle class" possibly made lace. Possibly they made
it for their own use or possibly as a pass-time. Being in a class with more
coin to spend, their pillows would be decorated with better quality bobbins.
I would figure that [the better off] would be the ones that would be buying
ivory bobbins. Maybe servants were occasionally gifted a pair that was old
or slightly damaged, as a reward for service above and beyond?
Brian
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