I've had a look at this item. I very much doubt that it is really vintage because otherwise she would not be selling it at that price. It is definitely a traditional Maltese pattern and I recently bought a set to give to a niece as a wedding present. It cost a lot more than her price even though it is commercially (but very well made - as my source is not a shop but a dealer). Something like this would take me many months to do so I had to buy the lace for the niece!
It does seem to be very well made by the standard of some of the commercially available lace on the islands. The 'sun' design is very typical of Maltese work. It is also a variation of a typical medallion that all students of Maltese lace learn during their second or third year of lacemaking. Usually the medallion has leaves in the centre like this one, but not in the 'sun' design, simply leaves that meet and cross in the centre (either six or eight leaves - most commonly six). In the case of the 'sun, the leaves are worked slightly shorter and at the centre, instead of a six- or eight-pair crossing, is worked to form a circle either in half stitch or, more commonly, whole or linen stitch. On the other hand, most commerically made lace today is made either in linen or in a silk-mix thread. I have never come across this pattern made in linen - it is usually made in silk-mix in order to be used either as a stole or as a table runner (depending on the length). Karen in Malta -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brenda Paternoster Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 7:20 PM To: David in Ballarat Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [lace] Maltese Lace on Ebay David, to me this looks like a typical piece of fairly recently made Maltese lace, intended for the tourist trade - despite the seller's claim that it's vintage. It looks to be cotton or linen and not the silk of most older pieces. Also it's not had time for the strips of lace to separate from each other, something which happens to nearly all Maltese lace that's been used! He/she also knows not much about the Maltese cross; "The half flowers that join the sectionsform the shape of the cross" That's just co-incidence. The cross design in this particular piece is in the corners, not along the joins. > This Maltese lace cloth is a bit different:- > > 300038502532 > Brenda http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.8/489 - Release Date: 20/10/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.8/489 - Release Date: 20/10/2006 - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
