RE: [lace] restoration of antique lace bobbins?

[devonthein]

This is an issue with conservators in museums as well. On the one hand the
public really does not want to see things that are so badly damaged that they
cannot visualize what they looked like originally. On the other hand, the
public may be staring at the reconstructed part and thinking it is the
original. One solution that is sometimes embraced is to restore the damaged
area but in a slightly different color or texture so that the restored area is
apparent. Another tenet of conservation is that the repair be one that can be
reversible. They also keep records of what was done to the piece.
I am not sure how you would do this with a bobbin, or whether the monetary
value of the bobbin, or its historical value would justify that kind of
restoration. Maybe they just need to be repaired.
Devon





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Re: [lace] restoration of antique lace bobbins?

[Maureen]

I agree.

Maureen also in sunny East Yorkshire

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Re: [lace] restoration of antique lace bobbins?

[Sue Duckles]

As both a bobbin lacemaker and a tatter, I would say that all items like that
are meant to be used.  There's something ethereal about using a 'tool' that
has seen other hands on it over a number of years.  I would repair a spangle
that broke, using the original beads where possble.

Some friends know that i always say these things are meant to be used, not
just stored!!

Sue in a sunny East Yorkshire, UK

My Tatty Blog http://pigminitatty.blogspot.co.uk/

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Re: [lace] restoration of antique lace bobbins?

[Janis Savage]

Dear Brian

I am not a collector of antiques so I may not be in line with the value of
antiques, but I do not see the point in keeping something that is broken,
unless it is to prove some point about it's manufacture.

Lace bobbins should be used and loved, just as they were in their heyday. Just
by using an antique bobbin, I think that it brings it back to life and it is
usually very difficult to work with a broken bobbin.

Thanks for all the work you do on the history of our tools.

Janis in South Africa



From: owner-l...@arachne.com  on behalf of Brian Lemin

Sent: 02 October 2016 02:15 PM
To: lace@arachne.com
Subject: [lace] restoration of antique lace bobbins?

Hi Folks,



I am always peering at auctions and bobbins sales and sometimes I see a
bobbin or a group of bobbin in a terrible state, dirty, wire missing, beads
missing, but basically the bobbin is ok.



Every occasionally (very occasionally) I see a bobbin that to me has been
restored.  It looks good, its functional, sure it does not look 100 years
old, but who really knows, especially if the spangle looks pretty original.



What do you guys think about restoring bobbins?  We do not give a second
thought to restoring furniture, but  do we think a bobbin in poor condition
should stay that way?  Certainly some types of antiques lose some of their
value because of restoration, and perhaps bobbins should too.  I don't know.



What do you think?



I am writing this because I am about to submit an article on "repaired"
bobbins I found at an auction site, to web docs.  A bit different to what I
am talking about now, but similar enough for me to raise this with you.



Brian

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Re: [lace] restoration of antique lace bobbins?

[Malvary Cole]

Brian asked whether we should restore old bobbins or leave them in poor 
state.


I think you should ask why you want the bobbin.  Do you collect bobbins as a 
collection of old bobbins or is this bobbin one you want to use?  If it the 
latter, then a certain amount of restoration is necessary.


I hear the comment from people that they won't use an old bobbin in case the 
spangle breaks.  If the bobbin has been in use for 100 years, the spangle 
has probably broken before, so it is likely that it isn't the original. 
Surely it is better to use these wonderfully smooth bobbins that have seen 
years of lace making already, than to leave them mouldering in a drawer or 
box rarely to see the light of day.  Many of the spangles on the old bobbins 
are quite large, and I have no problem to make it smaller and be able to use 
the bobbin.  I do keep the old beads separate and use them for old bobbins 
if one comes along with no spangle.


I bought a handful of bobbins from e-bay but when they arrived they smelled 
of tobacco smoke and were very dirty.  My sister, Jacquie, cleaned them and 
by the time I saw them they were in a very good condition.  Another couple 
of bobbins I had, leopards but only holes where the pewter had originally 
been, were given to a metal worker friend of one of my students who put in 
new spots.  Quite expensive, I think, and probably not something that I 
would do on a regular basis, but she had them done as a gift for me.


So, I guess the answer to your question, Brian, is why do you have them and 
what do you want them for.


Malvary in Ottawa where it is a grey day, and I'm waiting for the contractor 
to come so I can get the damage repaired from the city-owned tree which fell 
over a few weeks ago and hit my house.


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