Thanks for your frank assessment, Karen!!
It seemed to me, when I first explored the background on these pillows
about ten years ago, that they had been developed just after the
collection of antique European laces had become the rage among the very
rich in the US. So "hand made lace" was something that was known
about... and the "inventor" exploited this knowledge by marketing this
contraption as a way for housewives to make money or to embellish their
wardrobes and home fashions. I was able to look closely at the booklet
which came with the pillow (it's probably in the Digital Archives), and
it was extremely elementary, and certainly the lace made from the
patterns would have barely been worth making if the intended use was for
linens or undergarments. So, I was not surprised when I also learned
that the company did not last long in the US. What surprises me is that
the "inventor" set up an Australian branch! Enterprising chap, wasn't he!!
Thanks for adding that bit of information!
Clay
On 8/26/2011 4:45 PM, Karen Thompson wrote:
I am curious what type your "Princess Lace Looms" are, David. Are
they from the Australian branch? It was called Torchon Lace and
Mercantile Agency, and was located at 79 Forbes Street , East Sydney,
NSW., I am not sure about the dates of this address, just that it was
the very early 1900's and Torchon Lace Co., Arlington Chambers, 229
Collins St, Melbourne, at least in 1904.
Pat Earnshaw in "Lace in Fashion", 1985, p. 147 and 153 has a drawing
of an Australian Princess Pillow with rounded corners. She cites an
advertisement in "Everybody's Journal" from 1912. It has been several
years since I was doing research on this topic, so I'll have to check
through my notes.
I do agree they are not my favorite pillows to use. I am just
fascinated with the history. The "inventor" copied everything from
other sources and then took out copyrigt on the materials.
I've got 2 Princess Pillows and really hate them with a vengeance!
David in Ballarat
Karen in Washington, DC, USA,
where we experienced an earthquake Tuesday and are now bracing for a
major hurricane.
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