This image is from the book "The Art of Tatting" by Lady Katharin L. Hoare. I gather that Lady Hoare was a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth of Roumania. The Queen was a fine and prolific tatter. She tatted this lovely altar piece - it is a chalice cover done in silk thread beaded with pearls. Magnificent, non?
Here is the Queen (and others) tatting. My, what straight backs. Those corsets did wonders for posture. I wonder what the ladies chatted about. Did they gripe about their families/spouses like we do? Did they tell bad jokes?
I found Lady Hoare's book in its entirety online here. I realize that many tatters are aware of this work, but it's nice to find it on the web, available to all. Do check it out!
I think they would have talked about exactly the same things as we do - human nature does not change! It's a lovely picture - when I was at school, we had to sit with our backs half an inch away from the back of the chair at all times. The nun in charge would prowl up and down the rows with a ruler, measuring randomly, and heaven help you if you were slouching.......it was very good training in self discipline, and I hate to see young girls slouching these days. I tell my granddaughters about it, and they regard me with horror!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the EASY link to this fabulous - and historic - book! I've always 'heard' about it and wondered what it looked like.
ReplyDeleteMy mind is TOTALLY boggled at the items tatted by the Queen.
They don't seem humanly possible to do. And the photographs of the ladies tatting is just amazing. Lady Hoare herself did a lot of intricate applique work, and the Christening gown by her own blind mother is nothing short of astounding.
On the internet there are some lovely photos of the Queen (1843-1916)as a younger, regal woman, however the biographies I've seen make NO mention of her lacework and tatting! One said she did 'some embroidery'! She was quite proficient also in music and writing poetry, plays, and novels. Some tatting sites have her name listed as Queen Marie, but it is Elizabeth. (Marie was her successor to the throne.) Also her literary name was Carmen Sylva. But I haven't found any biographies about Lady Hoare. As you state, she apparently was a 'lady in waiting' to the Queen.
I bet they told totally off-color jokes!
ReplyDeleteWhat a long history of tatting--such a distinguished art!