Hi Everyone, In an earlier letter to lace, I mentioned a lace cylinder, which is on display in the temporary the exhibition about Manor Houses in the National museum in Copenhagen. This excellent exhibition is well- worth seeing, also because some of their gorgeous dresses are on display. One in particular, which is the one of the oldest and best preserved items of civil clothing in the world, is from 1695. It is a masterpiece in moss green silk brocade and gold, weighing in a about 17 kilos! The weight of the gold makes it difficult to display as is is tearing the silk and it isn't very often that it comes out of storage. Back to the cylinder! Their information available about this item is pretty sparse, as you can see from the reply I received after contacting the museum.
"Unfortunately it is not much we know of such items as lace cylinders. In the exhibition it is perhaps most telling in as much as it is a specific item connected with elite culture; manors often have and keep items not in use in other places. The function is as you describe it. We believe it to be from mid-18th century but we do not know the factory. possibly it is of Danish manufacture. Such cylinders may have been more common that we think but as is often the case such everyday items tend to be forgotten and not left to museums." The cylinder is glazed ceramic and is about 12cm diameter and 20cm high. It is peppered with holes to allow the washing and rinsing liquid to penetrate the lace, which is wound around the cylinder. An excellent idea and much better than a bottle. I would like to know if any of you have come upon such an item in this big wide world of Arachne and I look forward to hearing from you! All the best and keep bobbin' along from Avril -- And on the 8th day, God created golf courses and lacemakers........ Avril Bayne Denmark - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
