Mark, aka Tatman
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:50:41 -0800
I know there are a few of you Arachneans who like to know about lace references in literature or movies and maybe even keep these notes in a safe place or online. So I thought I would give you something I came across. If it has already been referenced by someone else, please forgive the repeat.
My wife and I are involved in making costumes every year for the high school play. We take it upon ourselves to do thorough research of costumes, customs, and history of the culture and people that are depicted in the play. Noting that it is a HS play and we are making costumes for stage, we don't have to be elaborate. But we both do enjoy researching. This year is the student version of "Les Misérables". Neither of us have read Victor Hugo's book, nor have the time right now. ;) So we make do with what we find in research we can find. Aside from that, we read the script and there are footnotes made by the script writer to give more information about certain aspects for understanding. Even notes for the costumers! In one of the footnotes it mentions that M. Madelaine(Valjean) ran a lace and millinery factory. THAT PERKED ME UP! Would like to see some lace references! We have viewed three different versions of this play/movie and they all have different kind of factories depicted(pottery, copper metal), none of which show a lace and millinery shop in the picture. POOH! Two of the movies do show just a little lace in the clothing, but not much to mention. Afterall it is a desolate time and lace was scarce among the poor(in these movies). Yet there were scenes of beauty and some rich clothing. But this footnote from the script writer got me into just researching lace references. Off I go! I found Les Mis book online. No, I wasn't going to read the entire book. But this website has a nice search feature. http://www.online-literature.com/victor_hugo/les_miserables/ I plugged in LACE, FACTORY, and MILLINERY separately and came up with this prominent finding(stated by chapter for your own reference)...... ====================================================== Chapter VIII. An Entrance by Favor He had even at need contrived to aid and multiply the industries of other arrondissements. It was thus that he had, when occasion offered, supported with his credit and his funds the linen factory at Boulogne, the flax-spinning industry at Frevent, and the hydraulic manufacture of cloth at Boubers-sur-Canche. ===================================================== No where does it mention a lace factory or millinery!! I even downloaded the book from Project Gutenberg website. Same text. It mentions the type of factories associated with lace. So was the script writer giving his own interpretation of what type of factory M. Madelaine was proprietor? This dampened my excitement, needless to say. So being that M. Madelaine supported the linen, flax spinning and cloth manufactories, could one assume that there would be a lace factory in the lot? Of course this is a fictional book. But I do ponder what type of lace and what conditions of such a factory would be evident during this time period(1790?-1830s) during the French Revolution the book is taking place. I did find this one particular lace reference that peaked my interest: ====================================================== Chapter XVI. How from a Brother One Becomes a Father: I know nothing about that, but just look at this wonderful rosette which a slice of wood-cells of the pine presents under the microscope! Compare the most beautiful Mechlin lace to that if you can! These thinkers forget to love. ====================================================== I assume Victor Hugo would have knowledge of this lace being made in that area of the country or knows that lace is prominent for this time??? He seems to be a history/research type of writer from my own observation. Below is the rest of the lace references that I could find in the book from the online search engine within the online-literature.com site. ====================================================== Chapter VIII. The Chain-Gang: He[Valjean] would have liked to resist, to retain her, to arouse her enthusiasm by some external and brilliant matter. These ideas, puerile, as we have just said, and at the same time senile, conveyed to him, by their very childishness, a tolerably just notion of the influence of gold lace on the imaginations of young girls. Chapter VI. In which Magnon and her Two Children are seen: One day, having been cheated by a business man in a matter of inheritance, in a gross and apparent manner, he[M. Gillenormand] uttered this solemn exclamation: "That was indecently done! I am really ashamed of this pilfering. Everything has degenerated in this century, even the rascals. Morbleu! this is not the way to rob a man of my standing. I am robbed as though in a forest, but badly robbed. Silva, sint consule dignae!" .............. "He is the disgrace of my family," said the old bourgeois[M. Gillenormand]. He took an immense amount of snuff, and had a particularly graceful manner of plucking at his lace ruffle with the back of one hand. He believed very little in God. Chapter VI. Who guarded his House for him: In this winter salon, as in the dining-room, there was no other furniture than a square table in white wood, and four straw-seated chairs. In addition to this the dining-room was ornamented with an antique sideboard, painted pink, in water colors. Out of a similar sideboard, properly draped with white napery and imitation lace, the Bishop had constructed the altar which decorated his oratory. Chapter III. The Inseparable: Jean Valjean entered his lodgings. He lighted his candle and mounted the stairs. The apartment was empty. Even Toussaint was no longer there. Jean Valjean's step made more noise than usual in the chambers. All the cupboards stood open. He penetrated to Cosette's bedroom. There were no sheets on the bed. The pillow, covered with ticking, and without a case or lace, was laid on the blankets folded up on the foot of the mattress, whose covering was visible, and on which no one was ever to sleep again. All the little feminine objects which Cosette was attached to had been carried away; nothing remained except the heavy furniture and the four walls. ====================================================== If you have read this far, I commend you. Sorry for the long post. I just got all excited when I heard/read there being a lace reference in this book(not the play version) and so dug into it to find out. I would appreciate any thoughts you would have on this novel and the lace references and type of lace made and any history of that time period and conditions of the lacemakers/factory workers employed. TAKE REST, that I will NOT be making any lace for any of the costumes!! It will take all we can muster to get it all done, being the play is 18, 19, 20 of March. Happy reading and lacing!! -- Mark, aka Tatman website: http://www.tat-man.net blog: http://tatmantats.wordpress.com etsy shop: http://tatman.etsy.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/tatmantats - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com