I remember hearing a lecture by someone who was very knowledgeable about
antique bobbins. Someone asked her the same question. Her answer was
that it was perfectly OK to put new wire and /or tinsel on a bobbin, and
likewise it's OK to change the spangle or add one to a bobbin which has
lost it's spangle. Her main point was that you should never do anything
that could not be *un-*done. In other words, don't re-dye a faded
bobbin, don't re-fill the dots on bobbins, or drill a hole in a bobbin
that was not made to have a spangle, don't try to bleach or polish away
the patina of age. But wires and tinsel can be removed, and the
original spangle can be put back on.
I remember that years ago, I managed to get - at different times - two
old bobbins that were identical except that one of them has lost its
wire. I took new wire (the gauge used on the intact one just happened
to be the same size as the wire I used for spangling), and re-wired the
old bobbin. I thought that since the wire was so bright and new, no one
would ever think it was the original wire. Years later, I look at those
two bobbins, and have no idea which one is the "new" wire... until I
look closely and see how the old wire has a flat surface from years of
use.
The only hazard is buying old bobbins which look too good to be true...
they probably are! Unfortunately, that doesn't make them more
valuable. Far too many of the antique bobbins I see on eBay have
pristine, prissy, perfectly matched "modern" spangles instead of the
spangles usually found on antique bobbins. It makes these bobbins
easier to use on a modern pillow, but in my opinion, it doesn't add to
the value, and in some cases actually makes them less valuable (than a
similar bobbin with an original spangle).
Clay
Diana Smith wrote:
Hi Brian
There's one dealer on eBay at the moment who is 'tampering' with old
bobbins i.e. replacing tinsel, wire, beads, spangles - totally out of
order (IMO) !!! Have you noticed 'him'.
Diana
----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Lemin" <br...@exemail.com.au>
To: <Lace@arachne.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 1:54 AM
Subject: Re: [lace] Pewter bobbins
Of course that is fine. We accept antique furniture that is
repaired/restored etc, but we seem to be a bit upset if a bobbin has
been restored?
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Nathan"
<j...@nathan54.freeserve.co.uk>
To: "Lace" <lace@arachne.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 10:33 AM
Subject: [lace] Pewter bobbins
I was given an old wooden bobbin with pewter spots, but one "spot"
was missing. It was in fact a rod which passed right through the
bobbin. Because it wasn't valuable, I cut a suitable short length
from an aluminium knitting needle of the right diameter and tapped
that in. Don't think anyone would notice that it's aluminium rather
than pewter as they are both grey, and the bobbin is complete and
useable again.
Jean in Poole, Dorset, UK
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