On Feb 1, 2004, at 18:39, Clay Blackwell wrote:
Thank you, Dora, for sharing your experience with us. I
think it speaks volumes about the conditions for lacemakers
in a communist environment. It may have been better than
starvation... but only just that...
Clay, you confirm my life-long belief
Eastern Europe was actually one of the last strongholds of real hand-made lace in
the early 20th century. I have a fascinating portfolio of designs dated 1925,
Dentelle de l'Europe Centrale, which has some Austrian designs from the Wiener
Werkstatte but is dominated by Czechoslovakian lace. The
Dear Susan,
Vis a vis your contention that the political system had no effect on lace
development in the Eastern Block: Will you deny that capitalism killed lace? Why
then should it seem a unlikely that an atmosphere in which market forces are
rejected and rendered null and void would be the
Yes, I do deny that capitalism killed lace. Industrialization and fashion
are much more likely culprits. In fact, you could make a very good argument
that capitalism sustained lace, by encouraging the trade that carried it
throughout Europe and enlarging the number of people who aspired to
On Jan 31, 2004, at 16:36, Adele Shaak wrote:
Apart from learning to make lace she had to go to an art school and a
textile school ( higher education).
I don't know why the countries behind the Iron Curtain put such an
emphasis on art and craft skills, but there is no denying they did.
