Dear Brian, Earlier this year, I bought a lace lamp at auction here in Maine. I think I wrote about this on Arachne, in a letter about all the lace things I'd been able to do here in 2010. Mine is European-style. In other words, a large globe-shaped carafe that was filled with water. A candle was set behind the water-filled carafe to reflect light through the water. Fortunately, I have an old brass candlestick from my 19th C. grand aunt, which goes well with it. There is a very similar lamp in Gertrude Whiting's "Old-Time Tools & Toys of Needlework" on page 254 of the reprint by Dover about 1971. Original book was published by Columbia University Press in 1928 under title "Tools and Toys of Stitchery". When I bought my lamp, I thought the curved circle that looks like a round crack on one side was an error of the glass blower's. But, it is clearly shown in the picture in Whiting's book captioned "19th C. Calvados lacemaker". The circle is on the far side, facing a candle. The glass inside the circle is clearer than the rest of the carafe, which I can only describe today as being slightly frosted glass (perhaps to lower glare). All is placed on a table, with carafe about 10" higher than lace pillow. The lacemaker is sitting in a straight chair facing lamp, with her bolster lace pillow on her lap. This book also has a picture of a lacemaker's lamp from the neighborhood of Valangin, Switzerland. However, the author refers to this as a "picturesque English outfit". It is a small, low, 3-legged round table, in the middle of which are holes in which pegs can be inserted. Attached to the top of 4 pegs are small glass globes that held tinted (blue) water. A center peg held either a candle or small container of oil (for wick to produce flame). This whole lighting device sat on a larger elevated table, and lacemakers sat in several circles around it (the ones in back row benefiting less from the light). The book also describes Belgian lighting as being a glass carafe, filled with bluish snow water, with a kerosene lamp placed beside it, that could be for 3 to 4 lacemakers. In OIDFA Bulletin number 2, 2010, on page 29, there is a painting of a lacemaker that someone has asked for information about. It is dated 1830 on back, but not signed. On the windowsill is a large glass carafe, and when I first saw this, I thought it might be for producing light for the lacemaker. It is not set up the way it would have been used. As we see more and more questions about lacemaking tools, I think it may be a good idea to recommend those interested in tools of our trade to add a couple books on the subject to their lace libraries. Quite a few times, I've given answers from the 15 books on needlework tools in my library. I would suggest starting with David Springett's book and the one I've used here to write about lamps. If you can invest a large sum, the German hardback book "Kloppel-Kissen-Stander", several authors, Hrsg. Deutscher Kloppelverband e.V., ISBN 3-934210-32-5, 2002 is highly recommended. A English language supplement is available. _www.deutscher-kloeppelverband.de_ (http://www.deutscher-kloeppelverband.de) Select Bucher & Co. on left, then Kataloge. Last books listed are this one at 29 euros and English translation at 16 euros. So, if you cannot locate in your country, this is a possible supplier! Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
Following message has been shortened: In a message dated 12/6/2010 1:35:23 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Some of you will have read my paper on these lamps that I wrote few years ago in consultation with a group known something like the "Oil lamp Collectors Society". There is not doubt in my mind that the name "lace makers lamp" is a fully authentic "Antique Dealers" and common name for such lamps, which are so pretty and collectable. However I can find no direct evidence that they were used by lace makers. Some examples of lace makers lighting can be seen in Diana Smiths new book on East Midland Lace Makers in Photographs (she seems to be selling it only on eBay) Mrs. Bettsy Fairey has a nice one, and William Linger seems to be well set up. (It is not too clear what I see in that picture) >From Brian and Jean Cooranbong. Australia - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected] - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
