Exactly where your ancestors came from might prove important in this one. I was in Mirecourt, which, btw, has a book. That's Lorraine, and Lorraine was surrounded by France at one time, with heavy tariffs. Since Lorraine grows flax, the Duc de Lorraine began a lacemaking industry. Which one, I'm not sure, but I suspect in the 1600's when lace was all the rage. I'm not sure they actually developed a style of lace themselves, but produced what the market demanded, borrowing perhaps from other areas. At least I think that's what they said. The lace exhibit in Mirecourt in the summer is wonderful, as they move to the upper floor of the medieval market, have large displays, and patterns for sale, as well as a group making lace right there. I spoke to them in French, so I've no idea if they speak English, but it was an amazing visit. As for Alsace, my grandfather came from a tiny German village about 8 miles east of Baden Baden, so I am somewhat familiar with the area. I've ! visited my cousins there several times and am not aware of any lacemaking tradition, certainly with my relatives, and they were so poor, the land being rather bad in their village which is nestled in the Schwartzwald, and anywhere they grow pine trees is bad farming land. If there had been a lacemaking tradition they would have grabbed at is so the children didn't starve. Alsace and an area east of the Rhine, possibly Wurtemburg or Baden, were once one duchy, which might explain why Alsatian French is not known for its purity, and neither is Schwabisch German. I suspect they sound more like each other than standard French or Germans. Some Alsatians migrated to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, and I believe there was lacemaking there, but since the French were the ones who lost the war in 1753? or thereabouts, they got the short end of the stick economically and needed money, and so they make hooked rugs for sale to tourists now, as well as finer products.
Hope this helps. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where I've just come in for a moment from making lace among the roses with a pot of tea. Doesn't get much better than that. -----Original Message----- >From: Tatman <[email protected]> >Sent: May 11, 2012 1:04 PM >To: Lace list <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" ><[email protected]>, "[email protected]" ><[email protected]>, Bobbinlacemaking ><[email protected]> >Subject: [lace] Lace from Alsace > >I just found out that my GGG Gma was from Alsace-Lorraine, France back in >1830s. I like to make and research laces that come from the places my >ancestors grew up. Not that they were lacemakers themselves. I don¹t >recall my family coming from a line of lacemakers. I feel isolated HAH. I >have brushmakers and farmers in my family. >Anyhoo......wonder if any of you knowledgeable lacemakers know what kind of >lace that was being made in the Alsace-Lorraine area in 1830s or before. >Would like to know the kind of pillows, bobbins, lace type so that I can >maybe replicate something for future display. And just out of my own >satisfaction of knowing how to make it. ;) > >Thanks in advance! > >-- >Mark, aka Tatman >website: http://www.tat-man.net >blog: http://tat-man.net/blog >Magic Thread Shop: http://www.tat-man.net/tatterville/tatshop/tatshop.html >Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TatmanBobbin > >- >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/albums/most-recent "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." - 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/albums/most-recent
