I do not know if folk lore ever becomes fact. I do not think the evidence in terms that we accept in modern days really exists.
I have become very pragmatic about things these days and I seem to think that the hand me down stories have an element of truth in them, but there seems no real evidence that what some person did years ago, for what ever reason they did it, turns into "Lace-makers-used-to-use-"fish bones" ... -whatever". I just do not believe it. There was the story that the Museum in Edinburgh had a pillow with bones as bobbins, and I followed that up and museum could not confirm that and indeed had an element of doubt. Some keen people have re-created pillows with bone bobbins and pins of some type, but that proves nothing. A slightly obtuse story now. I had a colleague who was determined to live in a lovely country house. He and his wife were active seekers, and when they found a house they liked they asked themselves one question; "What if we needed a box of matches after we came home from work"? The answer to that question was a determinant for their purchase (They did eventually buy a nice country house.. not far from the Village store) The point I want to make is that a cottage lace maker that needed a few pins and could not get them till the "lace man" came around next, got her husband to to sliver some chicken bones (whatever) to tide her over. It was a great time for "Make do and Mend" I cant think that the use of these pin or bobbin alternatives had any permanency. There is the exception of hand carved/twig bobbins of which there are many examples around these days. These could well have originated as the result of need of some sort and stayed on because they clearly worked with little inconvenience. There is nothing more convenient than a pin! BTW it is a fascinating thread which has thrown up some very interesting things. Brian and Jean >From Cooranbong. Australia You can read my bobbin stuff on: http://tiny.cc/egb85 - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
