South Australia: Miniature Lace Shop
A concerted effort by members of the SA Branch and obliging family members
has produced a miniature lace shop to be used for exhibitions and displays.
The scale is 12 to 1. The period is set at latish 19th Century. The shop
has been in existence since 1983.
Thirteen kinds of handmade lace are represented and, although this does
not cover all the laces that can be made by our members, it makes a comprehensive
display and will hopefully encourage others to take up lacemaking.
The dolls are porcelain reproductions.
The Shopkeeper is 6" tall and wears a black silk skirt and a high necked
ecru lace blouse, a pair of miniature scissors hang from her waist on
a silver chain.
The window curtains are needle run filet and the door curtain is netted.
Point ground and Torchon edges and a Milanese braid are sewn to the stand
near the door. On the counter a small stand with three short lengths of
Torchon and a tiny fibre basket with needlelace flowers rests on a crochet
mat. A length of Torchon lies over the counter.
The Lacemaker wears a dark grey dress, handmade lace cap, collar and
cuffs and an embroidered apron. Her pillow is complete with lace, bobbins
and pins and her basket contains all a lacemaker needs.
The stand in front holds a length of fine grey tatting, needlelace, narrow
crochet and another Milanese braid. On the floor at the front are two
stiffened crochet baskets containing bobbin and crochet edges. Against
the wall the table holds a fine cotton cloth with a Point ground edge,
a smaller cloth with a Beds edging, a dainty pink mat edged with ecru
Torchon, and an oval tatted mat lies across the far corner.
On top of these is a Point ground parasol which is mounted onto a strip
of net and the net is attached to the cloths. On the wall above the table
is a black Point ground handkerchief corner representing a shawl. An ecru
Torchon edging hangs in the centre and an ecru tatted edging and a white
Point ground mat are mounted on black which gives contrast to the parasol.
On the shelves are a number of coloured cushions displaying Bobbin, tatted,
crochet and knotted lace.
On the shelves behind the counter small pieces of needlelace and Point
ground have been made into a display of jabots trimmed with ribbon and
beads.
Copyright: Australian Lace Guild 2005
