Dear Mark, Taking into account the two replies you have received so far, first I will tell you about the Mirecourt book that Lyn mentioned. "Dentelle de Mirecourt - La seconde vie d'un cahier de dentelliere du XIX siecle" by Marie-Jose Massol, published in France by Didier Carpentier in 2008, ISBN 978-2-84167-570-8, 93 pages in color, hardback. In French. 15 Euros. There are pictures of 19th C. lacemakers. Instructions begin with photographs of supplies needed, how to wind a bobbin, reading diagrams, and the very beginnings of lacemaking, which you already know. By page 14, you are given the first pricking and diagrams, using 58 bobbins. You can go from this, which could be a bookmark, to mats, collar and fan leaf - 18 "modeles" in all. Some incorporate color. Mirecourt is what I'd call a bold lace (there is some in my lace collection), and I think it would be a nice lace for a man to make. Perhaps there is a copy of the book in the IOLI lending library. Other books from France in my library do have Mirecourt laces, but with text in French, and few opportunities to learn more if you cannot read the language. In addition, since I know you (Mark) belong to IOLI, let me refer you to the Winter Bulletin 2008-9, Volume 29, Number 2. On page 6 there is an illustrated 4-page article about Mirecourt Lace History and Technique by Pompi Parry (England) and Jo Ann Eurell (U.S.) My lace library includes a 25-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th edition, which belonged to my great grand-aunt. It was published at the end of the 1800's. I keep it because it more closely relates to the great periods of lace making and embroidery. It is well-before the World Wars and the place names and history are more relevant to my research than a 21st century encyclopedia would be. The 19th C. Alsace entry says it is German and that from a very early period and for many ages it has been disputed territory. Skipping all the military stuff, I did find mention of hills richly wooded and many agricultural products and minerals. And then, "There are considerable manufactures, chiefly of cotton and linen." No specific mention of lace. "Chief towns Muhlhausen and Colmar in the upper district , and Strasburg in the lower." Jeri notes: This has to be the same as Mulhouse, France, which is close to Colmar, France. Mulhouse, France, is where modern DMC threads are manufactured! I have toured the DMC factory campus (many buildings), which is very near the Swiss border. I cannot read French in another book in my library, but think it says DMC started in the last years of the 1700's, and I seem to remember that embroiderers celebrated DMC's 300th birthday. (There is a modern-day Muhlhausen in the middle of Germany, which I think most unlikely to be what the old Encyclopaedia referenced.) The 19th C. Lorraine entry begins with the year 843, and was under German governance at the time the Encyclopaedia was printed. Wars, wars, wars, and more wars. No mention of crops, minerals, manufacturing, thread or lace. But, I noted that at times it included almost all modern Holland and Belgium (except Flanders), part of the Prussian Rhine provinces, and what is still called Lorraine, partly French and partly German, but divided from Alsace! So, you can see what centuries of wars did to a large area of Europe. And why so many fled to the Americas. Look at your contemporary encyclopedia's (some on-line) to learn more. In giving information from various sources, I am trying to illustrate how to launch your own research (much as you would have done in high school and college). Everyone has different resources at hand that can be used, starting with a computer (try a search on Mirecourt Lace) and books in the lending libraries of your lace guilds. Bibliographies in the books you find most useful are a jumping off point to more detailed information. Unfortunately, the Mirecourt book (paragraph 1 above) didn't have a bibliography. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center -------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 5/11/2012 1:05:54 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
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..... ......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. Mark, aka Tatman - 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
