These are byLori Howe |
Introduction"SQUARE" LACE-BOBBINS A short history compiled by Brian Lemin with the help of members from Arachne, the e-mail group of those interested in all aspects of lace. e-mail: lace@arachne.com But if you are not already a member then you will have to subscribe.
These are byLori Howe
| This topic came about by chance, and I took it up because I am interested
in the names of bobbins. At the start of the thread I was convinced
that these were modern bobbins and wanted to see if the Canadian makers
of these bobbins were justified in calling them "The Canadian Bobbin" as
to my knowledge a number of modern makers were making this type of bobbin.
A definition: Taking as a starting point the so called "Canadian" bobbin and the bobbins of current makers of square bobbins of my acquaintance this would essentially be a bobbin that was part turned and part square and was un-spangled [i] . Or to put it another way, a bobbin that has a square section at the bottom of the shank to give weight and stability (i.e. not rolling) to the bobbin, performing the function of the spangle. Antique Square lace-bobbins
Some of the first square bobbins found in literature are in Thérèse de Dillmont's 'Enzyklopaedie der weiblichen Handarbeiten' [iii] first published in 1886. The writer does not specially point them out, so maybe they were not anything special at her time. The name of the maker is only known with a special type of a square, where part of the shank was filled with lead for additional weight, helping beginners to handle the bobbins. This bobbin is called 'Patent Jamnig', so a certain Jamnig had the copyright of this lead-filled lace-bobbin. This Jamnig most probably lived in Austria, as he made the lace-bobbins for the bobbin lace schools of the Ministry of Commerce of the Austrian Emperor. I am aware of an antique Bucks thumper [iv] with one or two (haven't seen it myself) flat sides. Some of the early Czech lace-bobbins (from the Austro-Hungarian Empire period, about the same time as the earlier reference above) were triangular. Some antique/used bobbins bought in Brugge [v] this summer (1997) had a flat side. It could have been that the wood had accidentally split off a wedge, but maybe it was done on purpose to a few of a lacemakers bobbins to keep the whole lot from rolling and shifting. (?) |
Other Early examples
David Collyer has 8 antique hand made square bobbins from last century in Tasmania. His are notable because they are especially long. Most collections of antique lace-bobbins have hand carved "square" bobbins in them. Characteristically the shanks [vi] of these bobbins are square with only the necks being carved round. Many of them are decorated by chip carving and some even are "Mother in Babe" types etc.More modern examples
Two bought at the IOLI 1983 convention in San Diego were South African made. It was made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Vancouver Lace Club. It is believed that the husband of a club member made it. More recent discussion in Arachne has reinforced the role of South Africa in the modern history of square bobbins. In 1981 a South African bobbin was bought at a New England (Australia) lace convention. Maker unknownModern Makers
The following have been brought to my attention. I have not actively searched for them and this list will certainly not be complete. Should you wish to have a square lace-bobbin I am sure that your usual maker would be able to oblige.John Aebi (sp?) in Indiana made fancy square lace-bobbins called *Joburg* bobbins; we don't know if he still does these.
"The Bobbinmaker" from Johannesburg at the 1983 IOLI convention here in San Diego. (is this perhaps the same person as above or have links with the above?)
- Henk and Robert Pel, Box 239, Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada, P0P 1H0.
- Neil Keats . Australia
- Brian Lemin. Australia
- Kathy Kirchner 790 University Place Grosse Point City, MI 48230 USA
- (She does not make the bobbins, she sells them for the maker, JoAnne Pruitt)
- Simon Tousteau (spell?) from Canada had some of those in Ithaca in October. They were very much like the ones JoAnn Pruitt makes -- long and ornate
- Kathy Kirtchner's are called BEDPOST BOBBINS.
- (I have made a series of bedpost bobbins. They are very slim, and are "copies" of actual bedpost designs. Yes they have a small square section, but would also need to be spangled, as they would be very light. I would not call them Square bobbins)
- Marcia Brady in Idaho? Or Washington made a bobbin called a "Downeast Treasure", that was a midlands bobbin with a square base.
 |
These were offered on ebay a while back and listed as So.African |
Practical Comments
Why do lace makers want these bobbins? Here are some pros and cons and some practical issues.ConclusionThey don’t have to be spangled They don’t roll. If they have highly carved bodies they are pretty, but almost as much of a "trap" for threads when making a sewing as spangles would be. Some are simply too long, the longer the bobbin, the longer its "leash" [vii] has to be to make a sewing. Short leashes give better control.
You do not need to have the whole pillow full of square bobbins, because as long as some of them didn't roll, the rest wouldn't roll either. It is true that a few squares "sprinkled" among the regular round one will act as brakes and limit the rest of them rolling. But, depending on just where you tend to grab your bobbins, the difference might be too startling to your hands. It doesn't matter how much of the bobbin is square; a square flange between the neck and the body is enough to stop the bobbin from rolling. A series of perfectly square based bobbins on a pillow can be hard to pick up. It is suggested that the "square" portion be offset to get the bobbins to lie "unequally".
these are commercially available ones
Square bobbins are not new. They are noted in antiquity and have been part of the hand carving tradition of lace bobbins. In modern times it looks as though a few makers in different parts of the world have been making them. The three countries that are mentioned in the more recent development of these bobbins are all countries noted for their immigrant origins, South Africa, Canada and Australia. It is interesting, but I doubt that it is of any significance.My many thanks to all those that have contributed to this discussion.
Brian Lemin
11/28 Deaves Rd
Cooranbong. NSW. Australia. 2268
[i] spangle: a wire carrying beads which passes through a small hole at the hand end of a midland lace-bobbin[ii] whit·tle (hwît¹l, wît¹l) verb whit·tled, whit·tling, whit·tles verb, transitive
1. a. To cut small bits or pare shavings from (a piece of wood). b. To fashion or shape in this way: whittle a toy boat.
2. To reduce or eliminate gradually, as if by whittling with a knife: whittled down the debt by making small payments.
verb, intransitive To cut or shape wood with a knife.
[From Middle English whyttel, knife, variant of thwitel, from thwiten, to whittle, from Old English thwìtan, to strike, whittle down.]— whit¹tler noun
[iii] Encyclopedia of Needlework to be had at Th. De Dillmont, Dornach, Alsace Price Bound with guilt edges: English edition Sh. 3.-- French Edition Fr. 3.75 German edition Mk. 3.--
[iv] Thumper or South Buckinghamshire bobbin
[v] Hanseatic League City
[vi] The long, narrow part of a nail or pin.
[vii] The distance between the lace and the head
