Margaret, who lived in Bedfordshire, possibly collected Maltese bobbin lace because of its relationship with Beds Maltese lace. It is said that the Maltese silk bobbin lace was first exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851, where it was seen and taken up by Bedfordshire workers as a quicker way of making a plaited lace that was less labour intensive than the bobbin point ground lace.
Other authorities disagree. Whatever the origin of the plaited East Midlands laces, they do have much in common with Maltese lace. However, in Maltese lace the wheatear-tallies are fat, with pointed ends, unlike the Beds tallies which are longer and have square ends. Beds Maltese often has the nine-pin edge (which Margaret always said was misnamed, depending on how you counted the pin-holes) while Maltese more often features a looped edge. Maltese generally, but not always, includes a Maltese cross in the design. Maltese is nearly always worked in a heavy silk, black or shades of cream, Beds is generally worked in cotton, black or more often white or cream. There were several Maltese lace collars in the collection which Pauline and I shared. They are very difficult to date, possibly late 19th century, more probably early 20th century. I say this because the most amazing item is a little girl's dress, circa early 1920's, made entirely of strips of cream silk Maltese lace. It has short sleeves, a square neck and a low, slotted waistline into which I have threaded a cream ribbon. Many of the vertical strips of lace were coming apart at the seams. It took me a whole evening to sew it together again. It became obvious that it had been re-sewn on several occasions, for the sewing thread varied at different sections. Once finished and the creases hung out, it looks lovely. I will take a photo when I have time and scan. Angela Thompson, Worcestershire UK [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED]
