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<p>[QUOTE="Northern Lights Lodge, post: 8029430, member: 13464"][USER=8708]@KSW[/USER] - the leopard! This bobbin was undoubtedly made by Bobbin Maker "B". This information also comes from the book "Success to the Lace Pillow" by the Springett's. I'm actually very excited about this one! I have one by the same individual!</p><p><br /></p><p>According to the Springett's, they were unable to discover the identity or the dates that he produced (apparently, he didn't date his bobbins). But he was responsible for a group of very distinctive bobbins, which he decorated with pewter inlay. Unfortunately most of the pewter he used has corroded very badly and they had christened him , perhaps rather unkindly, "the rotten pewter man"! In fact, he is probably less deserving of the title than many other bobbin makers whose pewter work survives unscathed, as he used a very high quality pewter with an appropriately high tin content.</p><p><br /></p><p>On analysis, they found that 78% of the pewter he used was tin, 20% unknown material (probably antimony which would help to improve the luster of the pewter) and only 2% lead. Tin is very easily affected by corrosive agents, and the constant handling of the bobbin during the lacemaking allowed the perspiration passed from the lace maker's fingers to build up and attack the tin in the pewter, and caused the inlay to deteriorate. Pewter plates and mugs were in daily used and would have been frequently washed, thus eliminating such an accumulation of corrosive elements.</p><p><br /></p><p>Once the surface of the pewter inlay became corroded, and the bobbin rough and uncomfortable to handle, she may have discarded it or attempted to make it smoother by removing crumbling pewter - so many of his bobbins have empty spaces were pewter once laid.</p><p><br /></p><p>This bobbin maker made fairly intricate pewter inlay bobbins including "butterflies" - which is like the one I own. I'll try to take a photo tomorrow. But I'm unfamiliar with the pewter shape at the tail end - the wide pewter piece with points. Curious!</p><p><br /></p><p>The beads - of course, you have square cuts again, and several round African trade beads which are fairly common. The large bead may be what they called a ribbon. Often the beads and trinkets on bobbins were special to the lacemaker; a seashell from a sailor beau or a trip to the seashore, perhaps a special button that came from some one special, maybe a gift from another lacemaker.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, there you have it! The man who made the pewter decorations of a higher quality than his rivals; unfortunately created pieces which have not stood the test of time. None the less... I'm quite fond of the man.</p><p><br /></p><p>I'd also like to address the comment made in that article that was shown with the two other bobbins... that the pewter would have been abrasive. Having used bobbins with pewter inlay and pewter spangles for years... I can say that they are NOT irritating to use. The only exception would, of course, be if the bobbin was made by the rotten pewter man! I personally love Bedsfordshire bobbins as they are so interesting and the bobbins have such personality! But, I find them a little cumbersome to work with and prefer "Cantu" bobbins or Belgian style bobbins. I'll post about them tomorrow also.</p><p><br /></p><p>Next I'll address [USER=76316]@wlwhittier[/USER] and [USER=1496]@Hollyblue[/USER] query.</p><p>Cheerio,</p><p>Leslie[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Northern Lights Lodge, post: 8029430, member: 13464"][USER=8708]@KSW[/USER] - the leopard! This bobbin was undoubtedly made by Bobbin Maker "B". This information also comes from the book "Success to the Lace Pillow" by the Springett's. I'm actually very excited about this one! I have one by the same individual! According to the Springett's, they were unable to discover the identity or the dates that he produced (apparently, he didn't date his bobbins). But he was responsible for a group of very distinctive bobbins, which he decorated with pewter inlay. Unfortunately most of the pewter he used has corroded very badly and they had christened him , perhaps rather unkindly, "the rotten pewter man"! In fact, he is probably less deserving of the title than many other bobbin makers whose pewter work survives unscathed, as he used a very high quality pewter with an appropriately high tin content. On analysis, they found that 78% of the pewter he used was tin, 20% unknown material (probably antimony which would help to improve the luster of the pewter) and only 2% lead. Tin is very easily affected by corrosive agents, and the constant handling of the bobbin during the lacemaking allowed the perspiration passed from the lace maker's fingers to build up and attack the tin in the pewter, and caused the inlay to deteriorate. Pewter plates and mugs were in daily used and would have been frequently washed, thus eliminating such an accumulation of corrosive elements. Once the surface of the pewter inlay became corroded, and the bobbin rough and uncomfortable to handle, she may have discarded it or attempted to make it smoother by removing crumbling pewter - so many of his bobbins have empty spaces were pewter once laid. This bobbin maker made fairly intricate pewter inlay bobbins including "butterflies" - which is like the one I own. I'll try to take a photo tomorrow. But I'm unfamiliar with the pewter shape at the tail end - the wide pewter piece with points. Curious! The beads - of course, you have square cuts again, and several round African trade beads which are fairly common. The large bead may be what they called a ribbon. Often the beads and trinkets on bobbins were special to the lacemaker; a seashell from a sailor beau or a trip to the seashore, perhaps a special button that came from some one special, maybe a gift from another lacemaker. Anyway, there you have it! The man who made the pewter decorations of a higher quality than his rivals; unfortunately created pieces which have not stood the test of time. None the less... I'm quite fond of the man. I'd also like to address the comment made in that article that was shown with the two other bobbins... that the pewter would have been abrasive. Having used bobbins with pewter inlay and pewter spangles for years... I can say that they are NOT irritating to use. The only exception would, of course, be if the bobbin was made by the rotten pewter man! I personally love Bedsfordshire bobbins as they are so interesting and the bobbins have such personality! But, I find them a little cumbersome to work with and prefer "Cantu" bobbins or Belgian style bobbins. I'll post about them tomorrow also. Next I'll address [USER=76316]@wlwhittier[/USER] and [USER=1496]@Hollyblue[/USER] query. Cheerio, Leslie[/QUOTE]
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