http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beautiful-Victorian-antique-inscribed-bone-lace-bob
bin-w-romantic-message-/221414498570?pt=UK_Antiques_AntiqueTextiles_EHhash=i
tem338d55210a#ht_359wt_1186
There is a gentleman selling a number of his wife's bobbins collected over the
past 20 years. He indicated the possibility to identifying it via Springetts
book. A challenge that i jumped at.
The bobbin clearly looks old, spangling likewise, even the possibility of it
being a James Compton bobbin so what is dubious about it?
Let me start by being charitable. Yes, probably James Compton, no real
problem there; The shaft ends have a turning shape rarely seen, but in the
spirit of charitability they could have had loose rings in those
âchannelsâ, perhaps beads ...doubtful as there is no marks to show that
the wires were fixed somewhere; possibly pewter filled.. I really doubt that
in the design and style of James Compton.
So that leaves the question of what could be wrong? It is all about the
printing. It looks suspiciously like it has been added later. It really does
not look like the style of printing of the maker, or indeed any maker in
Springett, just look through your book and try and match it up, things like
seraphs (or lack of them) âalong the shaft straight line printingâ,
colour, , neatness or even to be ânit pickingâ, the name Millicent (an old
name for sure, but I have not seen it on a bobbin before (it could be on a
bobbin of course))
There is one guy... sorry, bobbin maker! that often surprises me, that is the
âBitted manâ, I even looked at his output in Springett and my own
resources, and for sure he has not sprung a surprise on me this time.
The Springetts did us huge service in producing their book, but continuing
study by various people has shown that there are other makers that are easily
identifiable and we could, like Springett give them a ânumberâ, and one
area where i feel that huge progress has been made is in the study of the
styles of printing and identifying makers by printing style. I am fortunate
enough to have access to a private study by a bobbin researcher of such a
preliminarily document on printing styles (Possibly a definitive document)
that to me has been a huge addition to my bobbin resources. I suggest to
collectors that printing on bobbins is well worth looking at and learning
about. I use it after i have exhausted all other possibilities.
As all âexpertsâ say I do not really know if this bobbin is in its
original form, that is why i have used the word âdubiousâ and i will be
happy for someone to show that the printing has not been added at a later
date. It is best learning possible to be proved wrong. I should add I have
no idea when any printing would have been added... that in itself could have
been a fair while ago.. not necessarily a modern addition.
Brian
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