51/829/1-3

These are three lacemaking patterns, also known as parchments or downs. The pattern was first pricked onto cardboard - this was known as a draught - and then a piece of calf skin parchment was placed over it and pricked and inked.

3 lace patterns; good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Lacemaker’s patterns are known as PARCHMENTS. The designer had to first prick the pattern on cardboard and to make the lines where the GIMP, or coarse thread, was to go. This is called the DRAUGHT, and over it was placed a piece of calf skin parchment which was also pricked and inked. The parchment or DOWN was generally fourteen inches long, and when the lacemaker had completed a down, she had to set up, that is, move the lace back to the top of the parchment. In Bucks some workers used EACHES, which followed each other round the pillow, and avoided setting up. Old parchments were usually provided with linen ends in order that they could be more easily secured to the pillow. These linen ends were also called eaches and measured 14 inches in length. A later development in parchment design was the use of cardboard instead of parchment, with the whole design pricked on, instead of the gimp only. Two of the remaining parchment, with the whole design pricked on, instead of the gimp only. Two of the remaining parchments illustrate this development. The design on the fourth is pricked out on cardboard but is not inked.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded.

Paper, Parchment/vellum, parchment

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)