I cannot tell the difference between a Nike trainer and one made for Tesco unless I can see the logo, and I only know an I-phone from any other smart-phone if I see the apple. But to many groups of teenagers this information is important: from ten paces they can tell not only the make but the model, and possibly where and when it was made.
Once upon a time, when lace was high fashion, there would have women (and a few men) who knew their laces in the same detail. That is no longer the case. It seems that many people either lump every lace-like fabric as 'lace' or use the name of whichever lace they first met - most of us have come across the 'that's tatting' lady! It seems, from the recent New York Times article about the discovery of a 'new' Rembrandt, that Jan Six has fallen into the same trap. He knew the collar was lace and of the right style for the 1630s and seems to have known of bobbin lace but not needlelace. The two techniques were equally important at that period and in a painting that shows mainly the negative spaces it would be difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference. (See also https://www.britishportraits.org.uk/blog/you-should-always-look-twice-by-gil-dye/ ) Gil Dye. England - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
