In a message dated 4/13/04 2:47:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> A friend visiting from England and I went recently to the Isabella Steward > Gardener Museum recently. The guide that was given to us stated that the > Museum had "collections" of lace. Of course we were excited -- but the real > collection was on display in a case in the far corner of one of the rooms, > roped off from getting closer than about twenty feet. "Security". > > So, our appetites whetted and feeling considerably frustrated, we started on > a hunt for some lace that would be in a more accessible place. We did > finally spot a very small piece of brownish-colored lace, very close to > being a rag -- but it was described as having been made by Mary Queen of > Scots! So that was fun, even if we were very sceptical about that > atribution. > > So, anyone who gets close to that area (within easy walking distance of the > Museum of Fine Arts in Boston), take a look and see what you think. > > Carolyn Hastings > Stow, MA USA > ---------- Dear Lacemakers interested in museum collections, The Lacefairy and I were rummaging through a large antique center up here in Maine last Fall, when she spied a book: "Textiles - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum" by Adolph S. Cavallo, published by the Trustees of the museum in 1986. ISBN 0-914660-09-8 (hardbound) or ISBN 0-914660-10-1. This was added to the Resource Library here, so is available for commenting on the above note from Carolyn. There are some errors in lace facts in the book, but I would suggest you consider ordering the book from Interlibrary Loan, so you can see the depth of the lace collection. There are quite a number of photographs. Devon, especially - this is a book that may have laces to compare to those at the Ratti. Some have been dated from 1550 on. There are very nice needle and bobbin laces from the 17th through 19th Centuries; some are figural. This is one of those museums where the creator arranged her collection and the artwork is not to be moved around. It is also the museum where there was a very well-publicized major theft a few years ago. Thus, the emphasis on security Carolyn mentioned. The stolen pieces have yet to be returned to the museum, and were the subject of a lengthy New York Times article within the last 6 months. It has occurred to me that the *New England Lace Guild* might be able to arrange a viewing of the laces in the collection of this very interesting museum. If this appeals, you might also do a search on the museum name to gather more information. My apologies to those of you who wrote to let me know you have no interest in history or historical laces.... 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]
