Sue Hottel's question about terminology is interesting. We have had discussions about this on NEEDLELACETALK. There are 2 parts to the problem, I think.
First part is what names does the general public use when referring to the work. Remembering that the general public doesn't understand anything about lace or embroidery. If you do a google image search on "reticella" or "reticello" you get a huge bunch of images. Some are embroidery (very fancy drawn thread work, where very little woven fabric remains), and some are clearly pure needle lace (punto in aria). So if you want the general public to look at images you have posted, you have to think of what people without detailed knowledge are likely to call something. If you give it a pure and correct name that the world at large has never heard, your picture will get no viewers. The second part, obviously, is about choosing terms for us "experts" to use when talking to each other. For myself, I recognize that there is a style of drawn thread embroidery which has a style very similar to pure needlelaces. This style is called "reticello" or "reticella" (the latter seems to be an English language habit). The embroidered version came first, then pure needlelace based on a corded outline copied those geometric designs. So I've taken to using a qualifier: reticella needlelace, or reticella embroidery. As far as I know "punto in aria" always means pure needle lace. But it doesn't always mean needle lace in the geometric style of reticella. The piece that Witchy Woman gave us a link for has a lace strip hanging down the woman's chest. It consists of a wide central area with a purely geometric design. Then on each side of that central strip are deeply scalloped edgings on the left and the right. These latter I would call "punto in aria". Although they are regular and consistent, they don't have the rectangular geometric design of reticello. I have also seen some narrow needle lace edgings on other pieces, with tiny figures and geometric forms, and these were also called "punto in aria". Bellon has also published a book of her own bobbin lace designs which she calls Gekloepplete reticello. So from all this, reticello seems to refer to a style which can be worked in completely different techniques. So I think of it this way: Embroidered reticello: drawn thread embroidery with very little woven fabric remaining Needle lace reticello: pure needle lace with a severely geometric design stylistically similar to embroidered reticello. Punto in aria: pure needlelace in its earliest stages, with designs which are often geometric, but may include figural bits, usually fairly narrow edgings. Once the needle lace becomes complex and wide it acquires the name of a historic style such as Point de France, Coralline, Venetian gros point, etc. There actually is a 3rd part. From what I've seen people who enjoy reticello embroidery also often develop an interest in reticello needle lace, and vice versa. In the two forms the skeleton which supports the design is quite different. But once the skeleton exists the actual decorative stitches worked are the same. Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
