POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Two lace edging trims on card from Ireland

Two lace edging trims on card from Ireland

Object No. 2007/186/4

This machine made finishing lace edging is part of a collection of lace and patterns that the donor's mother, Edith Mary Georgeson (nee Lester), brought to Australia in 1912. Edith Mary, originally from County Cork in Ireland, had been a professional lacemaker making mostly hand-embroidered machine made net lace of the kind known as Limerick lace. Limerick lace was one of the laces credited with rescuing many poor families from starvation during the numerous crop failures of the 19th Century. Other equally notable laces made at this time were Carrickmacross, another embroidered lace, Youghal needle lace and Irish (relief) crochet. Edith was married in Cork, Ireland, in 1906 and came out to Australia with her husband George six years later. The donor was then six months old. George Georgeson was taking up a position with the Commonwealth Oil Refineries and the family settled in Sydney.

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Summary

Object Statement

Lace edging trim (2), on cards, machine made, cotton / paper, maker unknown, used for finishing the edge of Limerick lace, Ireland, 1900-1912

Physical Description

Lace edging (2), machine made, [cotton] / paper, maker unknown, used for finishing the edge of Limerick lace, Ireland, 1900-1912 Two lengths of narrow looped edging, possibly cotton, wound onto sheets of cream card.

PRODUCTION

Notes

This narrow looped edging, was made in imitation of the hand worked looped or 'picoted' edging of bobbin and some needle laces. Many early machine laces had this kind of edging attached separately before machines were invented which could integrate the picoted edge with the body of the lace.

HISTORY

Notes

This machine made finishing lace edging is part of a collection of lace and patterns that the donor's mother, a professional lacemaker in County Cork, brought to Australia in 1912.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs Jean Wood, 2007

Acquisition Date

22 November 2007

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