Hi Jean and spiders, I forgot you were in Glasgow. What a pity they had a pillow there but in such a state. I got upset years ago about the state of some beautiful Aryshire baby's bonnets in our local museum and made complaint. They promptly handed me the job and I've been there ever since. Good thing you didn't speak up, they would have collared you too.
Interesting the continental influence in Pitsligo. Wasn't that bit late for the migrations of lacemakers from Europe? I thought there were a few 'waves' of migration of lacemakers but much earlier than that. Does anyone know any more about that, or am I wrong? I'm also wondering, as people turn out deceased estates, whether we might find some examples of it now that were not available previously. Maybe by promoting the type, it might be more easily recognised. Can't wait to hear about Ballantrae, I guess it's the UK Guild mag? --- Rochelle Sutherland & Lachlan (8 yrs), Duncan (7 yrs) and Iain (6 yrs) www.houseofhadrian.com.au ----- Original Message ---- From: Jean Leader <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, 5 February, 2007 10:05:29 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Scottish Lace - Hamilton lace I've visited Hamilton Museum (it's not far from Glasgow). It has lace pillows and bobbins (all of the typical English Midlands type) and some lace but only one piece that is said to be Hamilton lace. I took Jeri Ames there back in 2002 and we were both very unhappy with the scrambled mess on the lace pillow, enough to put anyone off lacemaking, but I haven't been back since. Over ten years ago I tried to follow up the references about Scottish lace that Mrs Palliser quotes but got nowhere. My feeling is that any bobbin lacemaking in Scotland was probably of the 'opportunistic' type - when lace sold well someone set up a 'lace industry' but when the slump came (as it always did) the lacemaking faded away. I'm not quite sure why it survived in New Pitsligo - perhaps because it was taught in the school there as part of the normal curriculum. This is what I wrote about New Pitsligo lace in an article about Scottish lace for a German lace magazine: "In the nineteenth century lacemaking developed as a cottage industry in New Pitsligo, a village in north-eastern Aberdeenshire. It is uncertain who introduced lacemaking but it was encouraged by the minister, Rev.W.Webster who came to the village in 1841. He helped to improve the standard of the lace by bringing in teachers, compiled a specimen book and also found buyers for the lace including Queen Victoria. A report on Scottish Home Industries (1895) says that in the summer 50-60 and in the winter 150-160 persons are engaged in making lace. Women giving pretty steady attention to the work should make from 4s. to 5s. a week. The report is illustrated and includes a picture of a New Pitsligo lacemaker working at a bolster pillow outside her cottage. The lace was mainly Torchon, worked with the footside on the left indicating a continental influence, but there were local names for the patterns such as Lady's Fan, Jumpin Jecks and Ox-eye. The workers also referred to the movements of the bobbins as knit and twist instead of the more usual cross and twist. Lace is still made in New Pitsligo but now only as a hobby." And Rochelle, there is another Scottish lace - Ballantrae lace - but you'll have to wait for the July issue of 'Lace'. Now back to all the things on my list (this wasn't). Jean in Glasgow, Scotland - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ The all-new Yahoo! Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
