Category: Historical

Devon Trolly Lace - Patterns and Lace for Queen Victoria by Carol McFadzean

7/8/2022

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carol McFadzean; First edition (1 Jan. 2007)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0954768310
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0954768317

Devon Trolly Lace - Patterns and Lace for Queen Victoria by Carol McFadzean
Building on the work of her first book, Devon Trolly Lace - The lost lace of the East Devon Coast, this focuses on the lace patterns from the sampler, sachet and workbag sent ot Queen Victoria at the beginning of her reign.

The book is in two parts - firstly the history of these pieces and secondly the prickings.

Carol is also the author of two other books:

Devon Trolly Lace - The lost lace of the East Devon Coast; which acts as a companion volume to this book
Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian; a biography of this interesting historical lace woman.

What works well?

The history that is explained in this book really augments the patterns meaning

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers.
The Author also has some copies still available and you can contact Carol via the Devon Lace Teachers

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Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian by Carol McFadzean

7/8/2022

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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carol McFadzean (1 Jan. 2009)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0954768329
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0954768324

Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian by Carol McFadzean
Carol has a wonderful way of bringing historical documents, accounts and people's history to life. Her book on Sidmouth lace is great example of this.

Many of the designers and dealers linked to the East Midlands were male, however Devon, during the same period, was fortunate enough to have a number of female designers and dealers.

In a time and world where women lacemakers were often nameless and workers' associations were springing up to help them get their lace to market, for Devon to have so many prominent female influencers was remarkable.

Charlotte Treadwin was one of these who understood and promoted the Devon laces worldwide and was rewarded with Royal Patronage.

In her book, Carol McFadzean builds up a wonderful picture of the work that Mrs Treadwin did along with her legacy.

What works well?

The narration in this book is very interesting and the accompanying photographs bring Mrs Treadwin to life.
A few of the pieces have also been supplied as prickings, these include both Honiton designs and Devon Trolly lace

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is available from a number of Devon Museums. In addition, the Author also has some copies still available and you can contact Carol via the Devon Lace Teachers

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Sidmouth's Lace - Carol McFadzean

28/7/2022

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Publisher : Sid Vale Association
ISBN : 9780993481413

Sidmouth's Lace by Carol McFadzean
the luxury fabric that hides a world of poverty, distress and power

It's easy to think of Honiton as being the only place that lace was made in Devon. The town that gave it's name to fine lace motifs was not the only producer of this type of lace and in fact, both bobbin and needle laces were made throughout the East Devon area.

Carol takes the reader through the history of Devon lace, including the 'Seven Laces of Devon'; Honiton, Devon Trolly lace, Woodbury Greek lace, Colyton Chromatic lace, Kerswell lace, Branscomb Point and Honiton Point.

Building on this, she explores lacemaking in the area, how it was taught and the equipment use.

However, the lacemakers who were producing lace needed a way sell their lace and Carol explores the Sidmouth Lace Dealers & Manufacturers who retailed lace and provided a market for the makers to reach their buyers.

Devon lace has, for a long time been connected with Royal gifts and there is listing of notable lace that was gifted.

All in all, this is one of those books you will devour in one go and then put on your bedside table so you can dip in and longinly look at the photos and re-read chapters.

What works well?

This book is sumptuously illustrated throughout with black & white and colour photos of lace and artefacts.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is in print and available from the Sidmouth Museum.

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Folio of Bobbin Lace Design - Joan Duckworth

23/7/2022

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Publisher : Self Published (1981)
Reprinted : D J Hornsby (1982)

Folio of Bobbin Lace Design by Joan Duckworth
As Joan Duckworth says in her introduction to this book:

"It will be noted that the quality of the designs illustrated is variable. A few of them may be well be described as 'rough and inaccurate'. It has been the aim of the publisher to illustrate these as found, emphasising the difference between designers' prickings ... And the cottager's own designs.'

Although the patterns here are taken straight from rubbings of the original parchments, they have a wonderful feel of being connected to the workers who originally used them.

The final pricking #25 'oak' flounce, is the same pattern as shown in plate 17 of Thomas Wrights, Romance of the Lace Pillow.

No instructions on how to work the lace is included with the prickings so a knowledge of lacemaking and the styles included is needed.

Patterns cover both Bedfordshire and Bucks Point lace

What works well?

The origins of each of the prickings has been added to the pricking details.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

These are direct copies of original prickings and may need to be trued up prior to usage.
This book is out of print

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Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne

11/3/2021

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Publisher : Ruth Bean Publishers; First Edition (1 Sept. 1983)
ISBN-10 : 0903585162
ISBN-13 : 978-0903585163

Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne
Subtitle - Patterns for Venetian bobbin lace
Across the lace world, the book Le Pompe is mentioned in hushed, reverential tones. This books seen as one of the historical root publications of lacemaking and was referenced by a number of writers at the turn of the 19th / 20th centure.

The patterns have a heavy look to them, as though they were drawn using marker pen, but this due to the book being printed using woodblock. Whilst to today's lacemaker, Venetian bobbin lace looks and feels like a cross between Milanese and Bedfordshire with a hint of Idrija and Russian.

This book is split into sections:

Facsimile of the 1559 book with an introduction by Santina M Levey
Facsimile of a selection of pages from the 1560 edition
Technical Section by Patricia Payne
Glossary
How to make your own prickings.

What works well?

The text is clear and the black and white illustrations (by Bridget M Cook) / photo work well.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

A number of the patterns need to be enlarged; the percentage for doing this is clearly stated on the prickings.
This book is currently out of print, however, occasionally second hand copies do appear. Check closely though, at the price being asked.

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Book Blog

Devon Trolly Lace - Patterns and Lace for Queen Victoria by Carol McFadzean

Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian by Carol McFadzean

Sidmouth's Lace - Carol McFadzean

Folio of Bobbin Lace Design - Joan Duckworth

Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne

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