It so happens I have just been reading a book on "Tatting: Technique and History" by Elgiva Nicholls (a Dover reprint of a book first published in 1962). In the historical introduction she describes two portraits very similar to the one Yuko saw:
"It has been said that the employment of the shuttle shows off the worker's hands to greater advantage than any other instrument of needlework. In 1759 Sir Joshua Reynolds painted the Countess of Albermarle with a shuttle in her hand. The portrait is in the National Gallery. In the following year Anne Chambers, Countess Temple, was painted by Allan Ramsay. The sitter, who is wearing a tight, long-waisted dress profusely trimmed with lace, holds a rather large jewelled shuttle; her piece of work, to which the shuttle thread is attached, is concealed in the lace-trimmed 'pocket' suspended by a ribbon from the left wrist." Just such a pocket is visible in the French portrait. She confirms the earliest printed reference to "tatting" as 1843, but gives no convincing explanation as to where the word came from. Early in the 20th century, tatting enjoyed a revival spearheaded by Queen Marie of Roumania who, with her friend Lady Hoare, published "The Art of Tatting" in 1910. Full of original and inspiring designs, Nicholls calls it 'a milestone in tatting evolution'. So perhaps, as Hunting is referred to as 'the Sport of Kings', we should think of Tatting as 'the Craft of Queens' ! Bridget, from Pinner, UK - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
