Personally I think you were given good advice. I would only add that still
do think that some are so valuable that I would not really want to touch
them. If they were in a terrible state then perhaps I could be persuaded to
to do something, but I would have to think long and hard about it.
For example, new pewter on an old bobbin looks (to me) terrible. It is too
shiny and does not sit with the rest of the bobbin, but like has been said
after a few years they meld in again to what they were.
What I do nowadays is to to do it all in the virtual reality of "Photoshop".
I stuck an opal where one had fallen out, I will add loose rings where they
are missing, polish up the gold tinsel. I have a lot of fun looking at the
bobbins the way they were when new. It is a nice and harmless luxury that I
enjoy.
I call it "non destructive renovation".
Now you will never trust another bobbin photo I show you! :)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clay Blackwell" <[email protected]>
To: "Diana Smith" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Arachne" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 1:27 PM
Subject: Re: [lace] Pewter bobbins
I remember hearing a lecture by someone who was very knowledgeable about
antique bobbins. Someone asked her the same question. Her answer was that
it was perfectly OK to put new wire and /or tinsel on a bobbin, and
likewise it's OK to change the spangle or add one to a bobbin which has
lost it's spangle. Her main point was that you should never do anything
that could not be *un-*done. In other words, don't re-dye a faded bobbin,
don't re-fill the dots on bobbins, or drill a hole in a bobbin that was not
made to have a spangle, don't try to bleach or polish away the patina of
age. But wires and tinsel can be removed, and the original spangle can be
put back on.
I remember that years ago, I managed to get - at different times - two old
bobbins that were identical except that one of them has lost its wire. I
took new wire (the gauge used on the intact one just happened to be the
same size as the wire I used for spangling), and re-wired the old bobbin.
I thought that since the wire was so bright and new, no one would ever
think it was the original wire. Years later, I look at those two bobbins,
and have no idea which one is the "new" wire... until I look closely and
see how the old wire has a flat surface from years of use.
The only hazard is buying old bobbins which look too good to be true...
they probably are! Unfortunately, that doesn't make them more valuable.
Far too many of the antique bobbins I see on eBay have pristine, prissy,
perfectly matched "modern" spangles instead of the spangles usually found
on antique bobbins. It makes these bobbins easier to use on a modern
pillow, but in my opinion, it doesn't add to the value, and in some cases
actually makes them less valuable (than a similar bobbin with an original
spangle).
Clay
Diana Smith wrote:
Hi Brian
There's one dealer on eBay at the moment who is 'tampering' with old
bobbins i.e. replacing tinsel, wire, beads, spangles - totally out of
order (IMO) !!! Have you noticed 'him'.
Diana
----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Lemin" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 1:54 AM
Subject: Re: [lace] Pewter bobbins
Of course that is fine. We accept antique furniture that is
repaired/restored etc, but we seem to be a bit upset if a bobbin has
been restored?
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Nathan"
<[email protected]>
To: "Lace" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 10:33 AM
Subject: [lace] Pewter bobbins
I was given an old wooden bobbin with pewter spots, but one "spot" was
missing. It was in fact a rod which passed right through the bobbin.
Because it wasn't valuable, I cut a suitable short length from an
aluminium knitting needle of the right diameter and tapped that in.
Don't think anyone would notice that it's aluminium rather than pewter
as they are both grey, and the bobbin is complete and useable again.
Jean in Poole, Dorset, UK
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