Irish Lace.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 17, 24 April 1902, Page 5

Irish Lace.

A COEBESPONDENT of the Boston Pilot asked ag to the origin of patterns of genuine Irish point lace, and received the following T ™ V ll bey are modifications of a piece of Milan point owned by Mother Mary Ann Smith, of the Presentation Convent at Youghal and were first used when the failure of the potato crop in 1846 left so many thousands starving, with no work to be found anywhere. Ihe New Ross rose point patterns come from a fragment of lace bought by a nun from a Jewish peddler. The Cork crochet Bhells and wheels have been slowly developed from very simple beginnings, and although the work is not now produced in very laree quantities, thanks to the thoughtless eelfishneas which buys chean imitations, it is still the most beautiful among all the black open trimmings worn with black or colored heavy woollen cloths Wrought m pure black silk, it will outwear a dozen trimmings of woollen braids or cords, neither rusting nor turning white and not suffering from dampness. In fine cream thread it makes exquisite yokes, lapels, cuffs, and ties, and in cream white silk it is the richest possible adornment for whito silk, satin, or velvet. It costs but little more than Spanish machine-made and hand-run lace, and if the silk or thread be thoroughly wet before using it will wash as well as Valenciennes.