Those of you who follow my blog know I wonder about things. You also know I feel compelled to rescue every darned beautiful doily that gets in my path. I have tried to stop. Really. Since I can't I decided I should try to learn more about what I am buying. I bought two new reference books: "Collecting Antique Linens, Lace & Needlework" by Frances Johnson and "The Complete Guide to Vintage Textiles" by Elizabeth Kurella.
Oh!My!Gosh! There is so much to learn. I already recognized tatting and fillet crochet. I can now recognize Battenburg lace (not in the photo above but I will find a piece and show you). I THINK the large doily in this picture is a form of bobbin lace that was made for export from China. Butterflies were the most common motif. But it also resembles pillow lace and Saxony Guipure. Or maybe they are all really pillow lace....
I do not have a clue how you distinguish hand embroidery from machine embroidery. I always thought those scalloped edges with the fine satin button-hole stitch along the edge were surely machine made but now I know there were women who could actually do that by HAND. Amazing!
I also learned about Normandy Work. I have never seen a piece in "person" but it is like crazy quilting made from scraps of lace - who knew and kind of intriguing.
I think that small doily at the bottom of the picture is hairpin lace.
I will keep you posted as I learn more. Does anyone know how to recognize machine work??
