Dear Lacemakers, In the Introduction, page XIX, Cynthia Tiger explains "It was a common literary device of the time to use familiar last names and thus imbue the character with certain family traits."
A very important (to people with our interests and skills) name is mentioned on page 24 of the text "I fear the beautiful Lady Viola Alford would not feel complimented by the forced indifference that you have manifest to-day." Noting that "Tina" had 1882 and 1892 copyrights, I share with you the information that the School of Art Needlework in London was founded in 1872. This was later renamed the Royal School of Needlework (and exists to this day - located at Hampton Court Palace in a Grace and Favor apartment granted by the Queen). When this school was founded, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (daughter of Queen Victoria) served as the first President. The working committee serving with her included Lady Marion M. Alford! As I recall from reading elsewhere, it was Lady Alford who tended to the demanding day-to-day operations at this school, which employed over 100 women and undertook commissions, working to designs by leading painters of the day. Lady Alford authored "Needlework as Art" which was dedicated by permission to the Queen. This lovely book was published in 1886. It contains 11 Chapters and 422 pages. The history of the time reflected in its pages ties together many loose ends left by other authors who did not have knowledge of needlework, and it places needlework on a high pedestal. Reprinted within is "Story of Arachne", abridged by Earl Cowper from Ovid's Metamorphoses - happily, it is in English! It pays to keep all doors open when seeking rare books. This one came into my hands right here in semi-rural Maine. The owner of a local used book store called to say he had just acquired a needlework book, and would I like to stop in to look at it? It turned out to be a first edition, in near mint condition. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace & Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
