In a message dated 8/24/05 9:41:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> What does this have to do with Lace, you might ask? Well, I'm wondering if > this trend might also increase the use of the traditional types of vestments > > that were used prior to Vatican II....People probably know that they were > more > elaborate, and required a lot of handwork, including lace (viz. the antique > alb > that Jeri, I believe it was, posted a link to a month or so ago).... > Dear Ricki, It was someone else who shared the site where one could purchase these garments. I was so delighted to see the vestments, even though the laces seemed to be of lesser quality than ones seen in Belgium. People who attended OIDFA Gent and went on the tour had a wonderful experience looking at vestments in various lace exhibits and closely examining pieces in a ecclesiastical lace collection in Antwerp - I remember narrow corridors, climbing stairs, and crowding. (It might have been the Saint Carolus Borromeus. Sorry - the trip files are packed away where it would take a day to find.) My impression is that the finest of laces were reserved for the church by the women who made laces in European convents, especially in the years before 1900. (Search Saint Carolus Borromeus Lace Collection. My friend, Lori the LaceFairy, has entries here.) Though I do not know how much lace is being made today for church use, there has been a continuous effort by embroiderers in certain denominations to continue the tradition of making embroideries for churches. The British tradition comes to mind - and there are numerous wonderful contemporary books on the subject. Much has been stitched to replace what was lost in the two World Wars, mostly by volunteers. The cathedral collections I have visited in England are awesome. Anyone interested should order from InterLibrary Loan the books by Beryl Dean -- there are at least 5 titles. For history there is Mary Schoeser's book "English Church Embroidery 1833-1953" second edition 1998, published by Watts & Company Ltd. (supplier of fabrics since 1874), 0-9533265-0-0 (Wattsandco.com). In recent years, old and worn convent/church/cathdral embroideries have been rescued by the late Elizabeth Hoare of the Watts firm, and are housed in a new museum exhibit sponsored by Friends of the Liverpool Cathedral Embroidery Museum. There is a lot of information (and books) that I am not mentioning, because they are about embroidery. (You can do searches and find further info about these subjects and places.) As for lace, there is the 1989 book "Lace for Church Use" by Sister Marie-Clare Downham, Batsford, 0-7134-5836-4. It contains bobbin lace edgings for palls, lavabo towels, chalice veils, credence cloths, altar cloths, frontals, vestments, and Bible markers. Perhaps our Arachnes know of other *lace books* in this category? Books on this subject would be welcome additions to the library here. Recommendations please. If you do not want to de-lurk, please write directly to me. 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]
