Devon Machine lace is one of those things where the value is purely in the eye of the beholder: supply vs. demand. There is no intrinsic value. It is just a matter of what somebody is willing to pay for it. I haven't a clue, myself. If only it were possible to get into eBay's sales records for the last 5 years. It would take that much time to collect examples of machine lace and auction results. Of course, that information either no longer exists at all, or is certainly inaccessible to the public. I can't imagine that even eBay would keep the info -- they'd have huge data storage problems if they did.
I have never followed eBay sales for antique lace consistently. Only a few days here and there. It would take daily checks (or every 2 or 3 days) for a year or more to get an idea. I rather suspect that the person who contacted you wants a quick answer, not ideas on how to do research. I think "Antiques Road Show" on PBS has given the public a wrong impression on how to value antiques. They make it look easy. But notice that that show NEVER shows antique textiles or lace. It is remotely possible that contacting several lace dealers might produce tentative answers, probably all different. Good Luck! Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
