Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Vintage Thursday: An Oklahoma gift

Cluny lace
The name Cluny is given to the kind of lace of which the design is based on ancient
bobbin lace preserved at the Cluny Museum (Musée de Cluny) in Paris. The lace has certain distinct characteristics. The ground is made of plaited bars or brides. The solid parts are constructed of whole stitch, half stitch or whole stitch and twist. The designs are mostly geometric. For decoration, small picots and point d'esprit are used. Cluny lace was developed during the second half of the 19th century, inspired by lace samples originally worked during the 16th century. It was usually worked in coarse linen threads and used to trim household items, such as table and bed linens. Cluny is a coarse strong fabric still made by hand in France, Belgium, and China. Its name is derived from the Cluny Museum of Medieval Arts and Crafts in Paris. It is also made by machine. Heavy linen thread is used, and the design is so open that the product is light and pleasing. ( www.lace-tapestries.com )














This is such a treat to show all of you on Vintage Thursday. A new friend named Helen from Oklahoma ( aka: Reddirt Woman ) emailed me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in a piece of Cluny lace that she had. She thought that I would appreciate it because I love vintage lace and "pretty things". I didn't know what Cluny lace was but I said "Yes" and she sent me this lovely doiley. Photos do not do this lace justice. This doiley is exquisite!
If you read the information at the top you will see that this is a very different kind of lace that came from France( and Helen's envelope says "South Belgium" too ). The envelope says that missionaries took this kind of lace to China before Communism and it was called Chinese Bobbin Lace. If you click on the photo you will be able to see that each thread is crocheted with other threads before it was make into this doiley and that the center and the butterfly body are multiple threads, built up and given a convexed, three dimentional quality to those places. I have never done any crocheted lace work so this seems magical to me.

What a nice gift this was, Helen. Thank you so much. It will be taken good care of and treasured.

Please go to Colorado Lady, who hosts Vintage Thingies Thurdays, and see other wonderful vintage goodies.
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17 comments:

  1. Amazing what you can learn from reading blogs. Very interesting.

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  2. What a wonderful gift. This is beautiful and looks lovely the way you have it displayed. Thanks so much for sharing with us today. Have a great VTT.

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  3. This was so interesting to read. That's what I love about VTT, I always learn something as well as find new things to covet! I hope you'll stop by my VTT and check out my giveaways while you're there.

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  4. It is exquisite. I love the butterfly design.

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  5. That is truly a beautiful gift. I love lace, especially old lace. I had always wondered where the term "Cluny Lace" came from and now I know - Thank you for sharing this with us!

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  6. Lovely Cluny lace...the butterflies are quite unusual, I think.

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  7. interesting post learn a little every day

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  8. I love learning new things looking at old things. Your doily is beyond beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I have some doilies like that but I never knew it was called that. You do learn something new everyday. Your doily is lovely. What a sweet friend you have.

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  10. Wow, this is beautiful! Thanks for placing it on that dark surface so my old eyes could see it better! Reminds me of the tatting my grandma used to do for hours on end!!

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  11. Such a lovely gift..and what a sweet lady to offer it. Don't you just love blogger friends??? Happy VTT..have a great weekend.

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  12. How sweet of Helen to share! And love the information too.

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  13. absolutely beautiful, and so interesting to learn about vintage lace. That Helen is a sweatheart!

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  14. You are too kind. I'm so glad to have met you, because I now know that this lace is cared for lovingly.

    Like I said, I have no one to pass it on to and I was afraid if anything happened to me it would be tossed out.

    Thank your for being my friend and loving life and lace.

    Helen

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  15. What a lovely doily. You are a very lucky lady to have a friend send you something this beautiful. I love the way you have it displayed. Thanks for sharing and teaching me something new. Have a great day. Madeline

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  16. The Cluny doily is lovely, my Mum used to have some not sure what happened to them.Some things just sort of get lost unfortunately.

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