As usual, I am indebted to Arachne members for their response to my
question.
1. Most agreed with my proposed new motto about how much we DO NOT
know. All agreed.
2. It was suggested that our study of bobbins (basically relating from
Springett's book) is dealing with the high end of lace making.
I found that a very interesting observation that had never come to my
consciousness, though my bobbin partner (The Diana Smith Collection) has
often titillated me with collections of "cottage bobbins" and all sorts of
"different" bobbins. Together we have puzzled on dating bobbins prior to
Springett. We have identified quite a few different makers to add to
Springett's list. I presume it will be up to someone with a genealogical
bent to explore this and do another Springett but prior to the 1770s. A
very hard task and one which I would not contemplate.
3. This what the Arachne member said to me : Yes, I would love to know
how low paid workers got their mitts on ivory mother and babes. I am
suspecting that the "middle class" possibly made lace. Possibly they made
it for their own use or possibly as a pass-time. Being in a class with more
coin to spend, their pillows would be decorated with better quality bobbins.
I would figure that [the better off] would be the ones that would be buying
ivory bobbins. Maybe servants were occasionally gifted a pair that was old
or slightly damaged, as a reward for service above and beyond?
I would like to subscribe to that line of thought. I have recently been
researching Marian Powys, she was "from the genteel" class, her cousin Lady
Mary from the Blenheim area, gave Marian her the opportunity she had to
start making lace as a career choice. With those "upper class" ladies in
mind, there would have been quite a few others that enjoyed lace-making
without it being their source of income. Thus they could afford "better"
bobbins.
I have to say that when I am thinking of historical lace making it is a
mature lady or a bunch of girls outside in the sun with their pillows. I
had better have a bit of a rethink
Thanks again to you all.
Brian
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