I’m just thinking about the lacemakers. I’ve read so much about how in the 19th century, as handmade lace competed with machine-made, lacemakers were poorer women, right down to very young girls, who made lace for a pittance, and they supplied their own pillow and bobbins. I would not be surprised if many a young man whittled bobbins for his sisters and his girlfriend or wife, or even himself. I would not be surprised if they got to be pretty good at it; you never see boys whittle these days, but a hundred years ago it was just something you did to pass the time.
I recently saw an episode of “Escape to the Country” where they profiled a man (in England) who turns authentic medieval wooden bowls with a (replica) medieval foot-powered lathe. I have seen bobbins from the 1600s that I would think were turned on a lathe, and I’ve also seen bobbins from Europe that were probably post-WW1, that were hand-carved. As to Downton bobbins in particular, I don’t know. Just my musings, but I hope they help. Adele > On Oct 23, 2020, at 5:25 PM, Brian Lemin <brid...@bigpond.com> wrote: > > You may remember that after all my (our, I include Diana of course)) years of > bobbin study I only recently was told that all early Downton bobbins were > hand carved. From this I want to ask you all two questions please. > > > 1. If you have any Downton bobbins can you look critically at them a see if > there may be any carving signs on them. Mostly you will see this evidence in > the neck area, but you might see them elsewhere. > > 2. When we think of bobbins being used from say (not being pedantic) 1500 > onward s and the very few lathes available at that time[They gradually became > more available until about 1750 ish, from then on all bobbins appear to have > been turned] Do you think that all our early English used (East Midland) > bobbin were hand carved? Are all hand carved bobbins "old" [i.e. pre 1750?] > I think when i am asking these questions i am thinking that I am assuming > "copies" of the bobbins being used as opposed to ornate hand carved bobbins. > > > Its a huge subject and for sure i do not have any formed ideas about this > topic, but perhaps you may have, so please share them with us. - 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/
