It is with a very sorrowful heart that I must report the tragic death on August 26 of the OIDFA president, Ghyslaine Maes. Mme Maes had been ill for a short period and in spite of many prayers for recovery, died peacefully at her home in Brussels.
Ghyslaine was a very talented lacemaker, teacher and designer. She could make all types of lace and prickings and created wonderful masterpieces. A work was always in progress at her house. However, she was also very active in her studies of languages and antique lace. To my knowledge, she spoke and read both French and Flemish, as well as English and Italian. I was most fortunate to have been able to spend an afternoon with in August; lacemakers who knew her will understand that even when ill, she was still actively pursuing her research and contacting convents and churches for what is called Ghent lace with Varied Ground. This was a piece lace, created in Ghent in 1860 by the director of the orphanage at the Convent of the Visitation. A pattern was divided into separate motifs so that each child could make a part, and the various motifs were then joined together by a more experienced lacemaker. This was exactly the method used for two centuries to make Brussels lace. The 'new' lace was an immediate sensation and the Convent had many orders. The lace earned a first class medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1853. In 1997, Ghyslaine started an OIDFA work group to study this lace further and has visited various churches, convents and museums in to seek examples. Because it was widely sold, pieces can be found in many collections. At first glance, the lace resembles Valenciennes, but careful examination will show that it has not been made in the continuous method of Valenciennes, but is, in fact, a piece lace. OIDFA members will find various articles explaining and illustrating the lace in the Bulletins of 1997 and later. Hopefully, the group will consider republishing these. A longtime OIDFA member, Ghyslaine was elected to the OIDFA Executive Committee in 2000 as a secretary. She was installed as President at the Congress in Nottingham in 2002. The lace world has lost a valuable and dedicated lacemaker but in my dreams I see her busily passing on her skills to the angels. We will miss her. Elaine Merritt - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
