Dear Joyce, I think I can place the time that that was the price of lace.
It was in Europe, and around the era when lace was resticted to being worn by the upper classes only, particularly around France and Venice, I think (mid-late 18th c). I am not sure that it applied to bobbin lace, I have an idea it was needlelace. The taxes were imposed on it prevented the lower classes from purchasing it, and the workers saw practically none of it, because it all went into the coffers of the country. It's part of the reason why lacemakers were prevented from leaving the country they worked in, they produced too valuable a commodity. I'm dragging this out of a ten year old memory bank so if anyone can add to it, please do. It also gets to me a bit that we are such highly skilled workers, and yet our product is worth a pittance, when others charge like wounded bulls. Think about your last haircut, the hairdresser only spent a short amount of time with you and yet you paid her more than most of us would be able to sell a product that took a full days work. It doesn't seem right to me. --- Rochelle Sutherland & Lachlan (7 yrs), Duncan (6 yrs) and Iain (5 yrs) www.houseofhadrian.com.au Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
