lynxlace.com   Bobbin Lace Introduction   © Lorelei Halley 2009

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The bobbinlace section of this website contains a variety of photos and information:

Photos of historical bobbin laces (bobbin lace identification):         Antique Bobbin Lace

• Historical Overview:    a brief description of what distinguishes the primary periods, general trends in style and technique.
• 1550=1700:      the earliest phase (very few, textiles don't survive well)
• Pottenkant/Milanese:      Two forms which spanned an unusually long time, thereby confounding historians and making identification difficult regarding time of origin.
• 18th century:       c.1700-1790
• Napoleonic:      c. 1790- c. 1820
• 19th century straight bar laces:      1820 to c. 1890.  This time period is divided into three web pages to speed loading time because there are so many photos.  Includes Cluny, Maltese, Bedfordshire, LePuy guipure, other continental guipure.
• 19th century straight mesh laces:     Includes Mechlin, Point ground laces, Chantilly, Blonde, Valenciennes.
• 19th century part lace:      1820 to c. 1890.  Includes Duchesse, Honiton, Czech Russian and Idrija tape laces.  If your browser allows tabs, you can open two to view side by side.
• Revival Era Straight Lace:      c. 1890 to early 20th c.  Includes torchon, Mechlin, Flanders, Paris, Binche, Valenciennes.
• Revival Era Part Lace:      c. 1890 to early 20th c.  Includes Flemish/Milanese style, Cantu, Rosaline, Fine Bloomwork, Idrija tape lace, Russian tape lace.

Some examples of historic bobbin laces that you will find on these pages.  17th century:
18th century:
Napoleonic era
19th century: Bar ground
19th century Mesh ground
19th century Part Lace
19th century Part Lace (Tape Lace)
Revival Era
20th century:

Laces by Living Lacemakers: what we are all doing now, some simple, some complex (modern bobbin lace).

• New Revival:     c. 1970 to present. An exciting time when some of us are ferreting out the details of very old laces, but also designing entirely new pieces, sometimes using the old forms, and sometimes wildly original.
• My Bobbin Lace:  all designed by me and made by me (a few friends helped)
• Harz:  a free pattern designed and donated by Ilske Thomsen of Hamburg
• Waterlily:  a free pattern designed and donated by Ilske Thomsen of Hamburg
• Learning Bobbin Lace:    photos of the very simple pieces a student might make in various workshops, some by me, some by my students and others, advice and book list to help you learn bobbinlace.

Achieving a basic understanding of the various kinds of bobbin lace, learning bobbinlace, how to get started, what to expect.  The different kinds of bobbin lace use different ways of solving problems.  Bobbin lacemaking.

• Two Structures: what part lace/straight lace means, structural differences between various regional/period styles (lace identification).
• Make a Pillow:  How to make your own pillow out of wood and wool -- a roller pillow and a cookie pillow.
• Learning Bobbin Lace:  What the simple kinds look like, what equipment and tools you will need, recommended books, what kinds to start with (so you don't end up in over your head)
• My Books & Patterns:  My Torchon Lesson Book, Introduction to Russian Tape Lace,  my Torchon Pattern Book, and my other pattern sets, for sale on paper or as pdf files.

Contact me at     lhalley@bytemeusa.com                          July 31, 2010