The Washington herald., 1913-09-11
INTERESTING STORY
OF ANTIQUE LACE
Lace Was Not Made Until the End
of the Fifteenth or Beginning
of Sixteenth Century.

| OF OXIeentn NenIuIy.
Long before the advent of pillows. bob
bins, or pins, when the fingers were used
as pegs upon which to place the ''bowys,
or little ball of thread used in its manu-
facture, lace, in some form or another.
EXERCISED an irrestible fascination for
women. and even men We're not able 70
Withstand its delicate charm. This is
hardly surprising when we remember
| its decorative value, and the unique
quality II possesses OF ccnferring a GER
tain refinement and distinction upon the
wearer. Lace, as we now understand the
term. was not made until the end Of
the fifteenth or beginning of the six
teenth century: but nettings, drawn
thread work. and elaborate embroideries
have been found which date back as
far as early Egyptian, Graeco-Roman,
and Anglo-Saxon times. The most eX-
quisite examples of what We may call
modern lace date from the time Of the
Renaissance, that wonderful period when
all mems powers seemed suddenly 10
gain new life and vigor. and il is really
no exagGeration TO say that the lace then
produced was the finest the world has
secn
First 30 Introduce IL.
Tradition has it that Queen Katherine
of Aragon was the fiTst to introduce the
art of lace making as then known into
the Midands, whilst living in retirement
at AmpthE. Poor, unfortunate Queen:
She passed the dark DAYS whilst the
question Of her divorce was being fought
out "in working with the needle curious
lly." and so keen was her interest in her.
humble pupils that at one time when
money was scarce and times bad" she
burnt all her own lace so that an order
or a further supply might be given to
the workers,
Though there is no historic proof Of
these traditions, certain of the old Buck
ingham lace patterns show traces of
Spanish influence, the Kat Stitch" be-
ing named after the Queen. and Novem-
ber -. St GATHERINGS Day. is yearly
celebrated in the Midland lace making
centers by the eating Of "Cattern cakes"
In memory OF katherine. whose chief
fault appears TO have been devotion to
an unworthy husband.
The development Of the lace industry
owes much to the F1emsf-Tefugees. who,
flying from religious persecution, estab-
lished themselves in the Midlands, bring
ing with them their bObbins, of which
they claim to be the inventors. The in
dustry hourished for about 1OD years, men
and women alike wearing lace in profu-
klOI lIt NNllLtE EDlllH 10 Alit lfllh III VI
wearing it on their top boots and night
caps.
In Puritan times though the bobbins
were carved with texts warning the
workers against the pomps and errors
Of this wicked world. lace was still worn
to a great extent, the family Of Oliver
Cromwell i'm particular having a decided
penchant for the more costly varieties.
and after his death his body was clothed
in a garment more richly trimmed with
lace and ermine than that OF any king
before him.
The restoration saw another boom" in
lace. which lasted until the French Tevo-
luton. after which its use was gradually
discontinued.
The Lace J0bOt.
The eighteenth century was the age of
the lace jabot and rufie. and it is rather
interesting TO read that the latter are
said to have originated with card sharp
eTs and dice thTowers, who used them as
a veil for conceHlment Of their nefarious
practices.
After the reign Of terror and the advent
OF foreign and machine made lace. the
English industry gradually fell into de-
cay. The visits of the travelling buyer
helped to keep II from disappearing al
together: but the prices paid were very
low, and there was SO little encourage
ment that the work lost in quality.
II was only a few years ago that a
number Of people set to work to try to
revive what threatened to become a lost
art. and their work was so successful
that several lace associations have been
formed Throughout the country, and the
English lace industry is once more be-
coming a recognized form of enterprise.
Being made by the cOttagers in their
own homes, it does not take away the
women from their household duties, but
enables them to earn a nice little addi-
tion to the weekly income during their.
spare moments. II is easily learned. ana
is work which gives enormous scope for
the development OF individuality, taste
and artistic talent, and the refinement
of touch and delicsCy of handling re-
CURED are not without their influence on
the worker
Though the industry has not Yet re-
gained its ancient prestige, the results SO
far have been very encouraging. and
there is no reason why the craft should
not regain its old place.