many of these bobbins are courtesy of sewcollect
Antique lace bobbin with a spangle center bead known as a "crumb" bead. It is so called because the hot bead is rolled in crushed glass crumbs to add colored speckles to the surface. The process is described on page 25 of Springett's: SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS
Antique lace bobbin with "Evil Eye" center bead in spangle. as detailed in Springett's:SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS, snake-like shapes were supposed to keep away the "Evil Eye". Thus these beads with a coiled, snake-like motif were employed in the spangles for protection. In laid with three pewter tiger stripes.
Antique lace bobbin with a spangle containing a "Sweetheart Bead". According to legend, bobbins with this bead in the spangle were given as gifts on Valentine's Day. This and other fascinating bobbin lore can be found in Springett's: SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS.
Antique lace bobbin with a carved nut charm in the spangle. Spangles with carved nut charms are described on page 11 of Springett's: SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS. This little basket is carved of what appears to be an apricot kernel. Traces of purple coloring remain on the surface of the bobbin, but most of it has worn off in many years of use. Inlaid with pewter bands, and carved with incised rings
Antique lace bobbin with a lovely foiled center bead in the spangle. As described on page 28 of Springett's: SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS, a foiled bead is a glass bead which is formed, and then has a layer of shiny foil wrapped around it, and overlaid with another layer of transparent glass. According to the book, these may have been made on the Isle of Wight.
Antique bobbin with a very special spangle. As detailed in Springett's:SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS, fancy dress buttons, like other buttons, were used on spangles to ward off the "evil eye". This button is a gorgeous hand carved amethyst button. The bobbin is a pewter inlaid leopard
Antique lace bobbin with a spangle decoration known as a "birdgcage".The cage is formed by threading tiny beads on a wire, and forming it into a little basket with a larger bead inside. Described on page 17-18 of Springett's SPANGLES AND SUPERSTITIONS. The bobbin itself id inlaid with pewter on the leopard pattern. Here is another great example.
"Kitty Fisher" beads are generally held to be made of grey glass with small red and
blue spots superimposed upon a larger white spot in a rough arrangement of a
face. Kitty Fisher was a famous actress and courtesan in the mid 18th century
probably best known from the old nursery rhyme 'Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it, not a penny was there in it, but a ribbon round it'.
Lucy and Kitty were ladies of 'easy virtue' and it was much to Lucy's
annoyance that when she lost the protection of Mr Pocket he transferred his
favours to Kitty Fisher.
Based on information from 'Spangles and Superstitions' by Christine and
David Springett.
This bobbin uses beads in the center of the bobbin.
Beads were probably added to a broken bobbin to fill in the center.
