From: "Diane Z" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:54 PM
Subject: [lace] Lacemaking in Africa
One of the members is focusing on indigo dying in Africa and especially in
Mali. She wanted to know if there is any current, or historical lacemaking
in Africa. >>
I can only speak for South Africa. Lacemaking only really started in South
Africa at the beginning of the 20 th century when Emily Hobhouse came to
South Africa to teach the Afrikaner women lacemaking as a way of alleviating
poverty. She taught needle lace and one of the South African women went to
Italy to further her studies in needelace. Emily Hobhouse did design some
patterns based on South African plants. There is a museum where examples of
the lace is on display. The interest in bobbin lace started in the 1970's
with the rest of the world wide interest. By then there were Continental
and British lacemakers settled in South Africa which could start the ball
rolling.
As far as the indigenous populations are concerned, they did not make
anything lace or fibre related in South Africa. They are basket weavers and
beadworkers. The beadwork is of the most extraordinary quality and
worthwhile seeing.
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