For my next family history article I am looking at my husband's lace making ancestors from Olney.In the 1850s there were hundreds of women making pillow lace at home.Most of them were the wives and daughters of agricultural labourers and the money they brought in kept impoverished families going.
At the age of four little girls were sent to a school to learn lace making and their catechism. If their attention wandered they had their noses rubbed raw in the sharp pins holding the lace.
I have a small collection of bobbins from the 1850s with the names of their owners inscribed like the one named Betsy.
It is getting hard to find original old photos of these ladies that do not have copyright.
At the age of four little girls were sent to a school to learn lace making and their catechism. If their attention wandered they had their noses rubbed raw in the sharp pins holding the lace.
I have a small collection of bobbins from the 1850s with the names of their owners inscribed like the one named Betsy.
It is getting hard to find original old photos of these ladies that do not have copyright.
I've tried making Bobbin Lace, it takes great skill and dexterity. Your bobbins are beautiful! : )
ReplyDeletethank you for your comment- I have some pillow lace made by my late mother in law, could not attempt it myself. Antique lace bobbins do appear on ebay but are getting expensive.
DeleteLove the dust bunny.