Has anyone seen this piece of lace up for sale on ebay at almost $13,000 US. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2219&item=7323077731&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V Boy have I got the wrong idea about Milanese, I thought it would be simpler than Bedfordshire or Honiton, I don't think so.
Don't give up, Lynn. Milanese is not harder. It just uses a different approach and working routine. To some people, Bedfordshire is near impossible with the leaves and the adding/removing of many pairs. Milanese tape patterns can be either very simple or very elaborate. The same can be said of Bedfordshire and Honiton. When learning a lace style, you start with the basics and work up to the fancier techniques. Take a look at Louise Colgan's "Milanese in Color" patterns. The heart pattern is not intimidating.
Anyway.............as to the piece of Milanese on eBay, I think I tend to agree with Patty rather than the statements on the listing. They say the comments came from a lace appraiser, but not who this person is or the background/training of the person, The reference books are the same ones I have. I'm still learning, so could be very wrong with my impressions.
Just because a piece does not have a mesh background, does not mean that it is early 17th century. V & A museum has a large piece dated 3rd quarter that has no brides at all. See fig. 200 in Levy's book.
Also, there is no way to prove that only one person made this piece. The large flower head (cabbage rose type thing) was made separately and fastened in when the leaf/stem trail came past it. These could easily have been made by different people. Sections could have been done by different people and put together when the connecting motif was reached. The separate fillings in the middle of the tulip-like flower could have been done by a different person. The project could have been mounted on a main pillow and worked on in sequence by a whole crew of lacemakers. (It has been documented that rush orders were sometimes worked on round the clock by multiple lacemakers in rotation.)
I would more easily believe the revival lace timeline than the early date listed. I could be wrong -- have been before --- and will again in the future, I'm sure. <G>
The beginning bid price is extremely high. I would be surprised if they sold it. As to the commission price comment, I guess that explains how they set their price because there would be 1296 square inches in it, though I don't know where the extra $29 fits in -- perhaps that's that cost of posting this item. <G>
By the way -- if anyone is interested in a nice needle lace tablecloth that's 172 inches long by 68 inches wide, there's one listed on eBay under either needlelace or needle lace (or just search the number 172). It would fit a 12 foot table most nicely. Perhaps a wedding caterer could put it to good use.
Alice in Oregon -- where I'd better get my shopping done because a big storm is supposed to start later today.
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