In a message dated 9/20/03 4:29:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Devon's search for information on Point de Venise highlights the difficulty of trusting sources of information. I have been reading a book by Kay Staniland 'In Royal Fashion' looking for info. on Victoria's Coronation Dress. In the course of it I came across the note, " Much of the lace, like Queen Victoria's wedding lace was made using fine white linen thread . . ." This brought me up short. I knew the Honiton motifs were mounted on machine made cotton net, but had assumed the lace was cotton as well. I dug out my copy of the booklet on the wedding dress and lace written by Santina Levey and Kay Staniland. Here it says "The applied Honiton bobbin lace is worked with fine cotton thread and is of a high standard technically." The book by Elsie Luxton and Yusai Fukuyama 'Royal Honiton Lace' agrees with this. Who is right? I believe that K. Staniland is the costume expert while Santina is the Lace expert. Could this be a mistake on the part of the costume book makers and checker? It certainly highlights the need to check more than one source for information. ------- Dear Lacemakers, All the books referenced above were written some years ago. Perhaps the question has already been addressed by the various authors. However, Jean's findings point up a question that has been stewing in my head for a while. Are recognized lace and costume experts of the calibre of Levey and Staniland lurking on Arachne? They are probably so busy they do not have time, I suppose. So, has anyone on Arachne been asked to forward findings like this to them? Are our most recognized lace and costume scholars more likely to read the various lace bulletins? I think this information from Jean Barrett might be more likely to be shared and addressed - answered - if it were in a letter to The Lace Guild (since the scholars are British). If these were contradictions by lace and costume experts in another country, I would say the letter should go to that nation's most-recognized lace group's publication. Someone is sure to send a copy to scholars who have been mentioned by name in a lace bulletin, don't you think? Our lace bulletin editors would welcome brief articles by scholars about research findings. Shared findings may invite comments and questions that redirect research -- sometimes a good thing! There is a danger that 20th-21st C. book authors will copy from the scholars of our era, just as so many fell into lock-step with Mrs. Palliser, after reading her 19th C. book. We have the advantage of being able to correspond our findings almost instantly, but to be acted upon - they have to reach the "right" people. My reason for asking is that these and other scholars are still (presumably) doing research for further books. Writing a book is a lot of work. There are times when amongst many lace club members and Arachnes something that could be useful emerges. Then, I think of the approximately 1,000 Arachneans (and the people with whom they share postings) and realize that we regularly hear from no more than 25 of them. I would love to hear from more experts. If you are lurking and not sharing valuable information, please please join in our "conversations". Something you say may spark a new wave of valuable research. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
