Dear Karen, Writing to the list, because I do not know if your question has been answered, and what I say (below) may jog the memory of someone on Arachne who can be additional help. Over the Labor Day weekend, I went back and read all the lace bulletins of the last 40 years from the International Old Lacers, Inc. One article in the July 1976 issue, pg. 88, shows details from a pair of twin-sized needle lace bedspreads made in the lace school of Venice in 1925. So, this might be another place to check. In addition, I would recommend you contact two lace teachers, Betty Manfre and Vima deMarchi Micheli, with your questions. Betty was on the IOLI faculty in Bethesda, lives in Italy, is bi-lingual, and may know of places you could contact. Years ago, I attended a lecture she gave (probably in Ithaca NY) with the subject being present-day lace schools in Italy. There were a lot! Vima lives in California, has a connection with The Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, and presented a program at the Harrisburg IOLI convention. She frequently teaches at Embroiderers' Guild of America seminars. Vima has been leading Americans on annual lace tours of Italy for decades. In thinking of your question from the "what have I seen in my own books" way, I think one of these ladies may be able to help you reach Doretta Davanzo Poli, a prolific author of recent books featuring antique Italian laces in Italian museums, or someone in a art book publishing house in Italy that could steer you to an appropriate Italian lace expert/author. If your search is successful, I would be interested in the information you are able to obtain. There are three large point de Venise lace panels in my own collection, for which I have much information, but not as to their place of origin. The style is somewhat like the lace in the July 1976 IOLI bulletin - floral, Art Nouveau-ish - surrounding a reproduction (in finer thread) of a famous 16th C. Italian painting. They were shared with the classes of Nancy Evans and Liz Ligeti in Bethesda.
Incidentally, there is a 58" x 14" simplified Filet Lace 3-section interpretation of Bayeux tapestry scenes in the Summer 2004 IOLI Bulletin, pg. 20, from a private collection. This has nothing to do with your question, but might be of interest to someone else reading this memo. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center -------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 9/3/2011 7:57:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: As Jean points out the Bayeux tapestry is a very large piece of embroidery. However the Smithsonian Museum has a needle lace verson of the Bayeux tapestry. Fairly coarse Venietian style needle lace depicting most of the scenes from the original "tapestry" on a 30 foot long banquet cloth. Any suggestions as to where, when and by whom it was made? It is hard to imagine a workshop just deciding to make this giant tablecloth, hoping to sell it. It must have been a commision. But when and why? Those of you attending the IOLI Convention in Bethesda, Maryland and went on the trip to the American History Museum saw it spread out. - A very rare sight. The banquet cloth was donated in 1984 and most likely produced in the 20th Century. Any clues will be much appreciated. The Burano Lace School do not have a record of it having been made there. Karen in Washington, DC, where the weekend is beautiful: cool and sunny. - 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
