Yes, families did change jewelry to the latest style back in the Victorian and Edwardian age -not so much anymore. Because now they understand the historical value of the gem in that setting if it's truly that old.
Also, in the Victorian age, they loved doing exactly what you are doing - taking antique dresses and outfits to wear to fancy balls. Do you have any idea how many we lost during that time period? How many not only Rococo but Elizabethan outfits? Just because someone wanted to look pretty and was incapable of thinking about the historic value of the item in their hands. Not only are you doing this yourself, but encouraging others to do this as well - which is where my outrage is coming from. I've seen plenty of people post something to ebay/etsy/pick your favorite online flea market that they had no idea what it was. By encourage others to do what you do to create a t-tunic - beginners garb for most Medieval groups- you are encouraging people who have little knowledge on the subject of historical textiles to rip apart something that may be very valuable. That supposed 19th C chemise may actually be 17th C. It's irresponsible. You may not consider yourself a "custodian" of historical wears but we all are. We all need to attempt to preserve objects of the past so that future generations can learn from them. Rather than taking that dress in or out, why not check out the seam lines and see if you can recreate a pattern from it? As for the items being yours - well, the old house was your parents', right? I highly doubt they were allowed to do whatever they pleased with it. The laws and regulations for houses began due to people with your mindset. Originally, Independence Hall was scheduled to be torn down because the people that owned the land didn't care about it's historical value. Shakespeare's home was torn down because the individual that owned the land didn't care about the historical value. We need to appreciate the value in all objects and attempt to preserve them. Of course, just like houses, there are exceptions - if the dress is too badly damaged to be saved then save what can be saved and reuse those bits. If the silk is shattered or dry rot has gotten to too much of it then take what can be used. But in dresses that , in your opinion, are good enough to wear? No. That's like destroying the an antique building that is good enough to live in. I know you won't listen, Fran. I've been on this list long enough to know that. I also know you'll write back telling me how I have no business telling you what to do with your stuff and how I should just go away. It will probably take three or four paragraphs. ;-) However, I know it will make others on the list stop and think. And if we stop this cultural object destruction only one person at a time, so be it. -Isabella > Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:10:24 -0700 > From: Lavolta Press <[email protected]> > To: Historical Costume <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [h-cost] Easy way to get a hand sewn T-Tunic (Lavolta > Press) > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > What I am saying is the do-not-cross line is strictly up to the owner of > the item. The families wealthy enough to have "family jewels" have > traditionally often reset them to current styles and sometimes, recut > stones with new techniques. The 18th-century diamond necklace might be > lovely, and so is the Victorian one later made from the same diamonds, > and so is the Art Deco one even later made from the same diamonds. It's > other people's business to criticize the owners for their goal of having > stylish jewelry to wear now instead of unstylish jewelry preserved in a > vault. And it's useless. Everyone on this list can get together in a > committee and decide no one should ever alter any jewelry set after > 1920, or whatever, and the owners will go right ahead and do it. I doubt > I'm ever going to have to face that particular issue personally, but if > someone ever gives me a whopping diamond necklace in a style I don't > like, I will certainly feel free to have it reset in a style I do like. > > Fran > Lavolta Press > www.lavoltapress.com > > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
