All will note that I recently began trying to write without using quotation marks and apostrophes.  This is because my incoming mail from some correspondents replace these grammar marks with bold question marks.  I think that maybe my posts are doing this to messages I send.   Devon,  This week I viewed the current Ornament magazine (published in California) at Barnes and Noble.  It features a nice long article about Aileen Riberio.  I appreciate her scholarship, also, and have 6 of her books in my library.  Lace scholars will use a variety of fashion books, though now it is possible to do a lot of searching via computer.  There were about a dozen lace books Lori Howe and I referenced whenever there were lace identification questions in connection with developing the (now extinct) Lace Fairy site - 20 years ago.  Following this exercise, I would select books on high fashion and national costumes of all eras, to see if we could match laces to their appropriate application on clothing.  We all know that laces were made for household linens and ecclesiastical use, but mostly they were collected and worn for personal adornment.  Perhaps I should repeat what has been said on more than one occasion - if you are considering cutting up a damaged lace that is assembled into an unusual shape - like collars, dress yokes, sleeves, caps, jabots and cravats - think twice.  These shapes make it easier to identify the lace and place of origin.  Those who teach may find them useful examples to pass around the room - something they might not do with an old lace in perfect condition.   Yesterday, I wrote the following to Lorelei, but perhaps should have sent it to all Arachne subscribers.  Bloomsbury Press specializes in fashion books.  I learned about Bloomsbury as a member of the Costume Society of America.  Do you know any members?  Maybe a search of their site will turn up something.  Also, that gives a suggestion that you contact someone who is probably a volunteer at a costume collection in a local museum, which might have the set of books in their research library.  Sometimes, such libraries are open to scholars without charge.  Also, I found some ideas by searching 4-volumes Fashion History.  Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center In a message dated 3/6/2018 5:06:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, devonth...@gmail.com writes: Lorelei���s query about fashion history books is a good question. The problem encountered by the lace historian is to try to figure out what all these pieces of lace in museum collections started out trying to be. It is very vexing, and I wish I understood the topic better. I have found the books by Aileen Ribeiro to be very helpful.
.....Any book that is actually written about fashion quite likely leaves out the lace as unimportant. But photographs of the late 19th and early 20th century can show lace on them. It is mostly these strange shaped accessories that one does find in museum collections, and antique shows, sometimes even composed of older lace....Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
