The few searches that have led to pillows similar to those sought in the research project seem to universally refer to 'notches'; as opposed to 'grooves', or any other 'official' named reference. (There must be a Spanish word for these 'notches'. ?)
All search strings seeking this type of pillow lead to references to Puerto Rico. So far - only Puerto Rico. That lace arrived from Spain and that any uniquely Puerto Rican pillow design would have evolved from this is noted, but no searches have found a pillow like of this design that is actually from Spain. Only Puerto Rican examples so far. There have been Spanish pillows of similar designs with the 'arms' on the sides (What are they called?). Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican lacemakers and textile historians may well be key to making progress in establishing these pages as a definitive reference for this type of lace pillow; a variant of the 'roller' pillows.
Most of my searches for a 'Spanish Lace Pillow' brought me to pages that showed a pillow quite tall, and very narrow to the length. The connection to Puerto Rico for the small roller lace pillow with an arm on each side of the roller seems very strong. No examples have been found from any other country as yet. Surely, the style has expanded within the region, beyond the islands of Puerto Rico (perhaps Haiti or Cuba).? Or no? 'Notched' examples specifically?
Dr. Hart has access to experts in woods and I shall prevail upon him to have the pillow examined. (Preferably by more than one person, in order to get additional and independent opinions.) The identification of the wood(s) used should provide definitive information regarding origin. The wood(s) used should determine if certain areas are highly likely or unlikely. For example, could it be a pillow actually made in the Southern United States? Is it possible that it is a Puerto Rican pillow which has made its way to North Carolina? Hopefully, these same experts may be able to make an assessment of date of manufacture and provide the basis and ensuing reasoning to justify and document the opinion.
The 'lace box' or 'roller style' pillow is about 11 5/8" at its widest point. It has a depth of about 7 1/2". The drawer is full depth and is about 2 1/4" tall. The front bar is well padded. The back bar is an unpadded round wood bar. The diameter and the circumference of the roller are not known at this time and is on the list of details which should be documented and noted on these pages. The roller is, as one would expect, quite padded, and tightly padded. The total height is another dimension to be added. Those notes are currently in the wrong file. The trick is finding out which one.
I shall also extract as much information as possible regarding where he found the pillow, the year, who he got it from, what it cost..... Most of this information is likely to be useful only as a matter of interest and general information. A clue that would add to the nearly nonexistent information regarding this specific pillow is unlikely. Dr. Hart acquires many artifacts from many sources. Back-tracking beyond the point of purchase (or even to that point), though ideal, is highly unlikely. It is very possible that the last seller will be unknown (or unfound) and that not even an inquiry will be able to be made of the last seller about what history they can add.
A Google searches for - mundillo - specifying Spanish language results, and made specific to results oiriginating in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Cuba, and Spain show minimal promise for results outside of Puerto Rico for this term (little world) being connected to results relevant to lacemaking. Only Puerto Rico has thus far provided useful results that match mundillo with lace and have yielded pictures of the style of pillow that we are researching.
Mundo = world
Mundillo, as already noted below in research text = little world. The suffix illo, in Spanish, indicates smallness.
Mundial indicates 'all encompassing', as in a world championship.
A search including 'encaje' (lace) with mundillo will probably be required to expand results. This pillow style is, at this point, exclusive to Puerto Rico. Surely it is can be found beyond that border. ? How did it arrive? How did it evolve?
Puerto Rican Lacemaking Pictures
~ mundillo1.jpg ~
~ ~ ~ mundillo2.jpg ~ ~ ~
~ mundillo3.jpg ~
~ mundillo4.jpg ~
~ ~ ~ mundillo5.jpg ~ ~ ~
~ mundillo6.jpg ~
~ mundillo7.jpg ~
~ mundillo8.jpg ~
~ mundillo9.jpg ~
Could not find text pages associated with pictures. Originating site is primerahora.com, which appears to be based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
Images #2 and #5 are of particular interest because they clearly show the 'notched' arms that the Hart Square Pillow has. Of the numerous mundillo images found thus far, this seems to be the 'minority style' of mundillo. Most of the pictures found so far show a rounded arm.
~ nyfolklore.org ~
mundillo = little world - for the roller pillow http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic29-3-4/rosa.html
tejedora = lacemaker
Selected references:
In Puerto Rico, the towns of Moca, Isabela, and Aguadilla, all in the northwestern part of the island, are famous for mundillo.
.....using thorns from a bush as needles.
Bobbin lace was first made in the Middle Ages in Flanders (the northern region of Belgium), where it was known as kant ("border" or "edge"), .....
The art of making bobbin lace may have reached Spain through Flanders or Italy. Some researchers believe that point lace was introduced to Spain from Italy and from there was brought to Flanders, which in the sixteenth century was one of Spain's dominions. Bobbin lace, like the art of making it, was then exported to Spain and later to Puerto Rico.
.....uses a wooden box with a revolving cylindrical pillow. In Spain cylindrical pillows emerged because the Spanish style of making bobbin lace did not require the bobbins to remain flat on the pattern.
To what regions, and stages of development, can this pillow style (and close relations without the notches on the 'arms') be traced? Puerto Rico > Spain? > Flanders (now possibly defined in present day geography as Belgium, France and/or Netherlands Wikipedia - Flanders), and/or Italy? The documentation of the origin and spread of lace and lace pillows seems unsettled - based on references found thus far.
~ lacefairy.com ~
Bolillos = Bobbins
Encaje de Bolillos = Bobbin Lace
Encaje = Lace
Bolillero, Almohadilla = Pillow Lace
Alfileres = Pins
Hilos = Threads
Most of my searches for a 'Spanish Lace Pillow' brought me to pages that showed a pillow quite tall, and very narrow to the length. Box or roller pillow examples have proven very difficult to document. This page shows two small "Spanish pillows", and implies that they are the basis of common Puerto Rican pillow design.
Be sure to watch the video clip. Although all of the lacemakers are using the 'Spanish pillow' (quite tall), and the speed of the work is impressive. Note how many scenes show the movement of pins on the pillow without hardly slowing the working of the bobbins, which does not stop for a moment.
This page shows three pictures of our 'box roller' pillow, including one with clearly notched arms on each side of the roller. The source of this pillow is specified as Puerto Rico. Note that this pillow uses screws on the side of the arms to make the connection to the roller, exactly like the Hart Square pillow. The other two pillows, without notches, seem to use 'knobs' to make that connection. Almost all resources found show knobs being used.
Is there enough weight to the roller that these knobs are simply used to make the rotation? Or is the roller light enough they actually apply tension to the roller by screwing into place. It has been suggested, without documentation or resource, that on the notched pillow style, the notches may serve two purposes. First, that the weight of the bobbins set aside may provide weight to keep the pillow from turning. Second, that the notches provide and easy way to 'set aside' bobbins not currently being worked.
We are dubious as to the first suggestion. It does not seem reasonable that the weight of bobbins set in the notches would be sufficient to provide a 'braking action' against the pillow turning. The Hart Square pillow turns 'too easily', It is our first thought that the screws through the arms, into the roller simply need to be tightened a bit. The purpose of these pages are to establish documentation and resources and to removes questions and surmising.
~ lacefairy.com - second related page ~
This page is clearly shows both 'notched' and un-notched versions of the 'box roller' style lace pillow. The un-notched versions mostly show the knobs described earlier. The notched examples do not, and we again see the use of screws in one of the notched examples. (In the other example, we cannot see the attachment method, but this pillow is shown in the next section where construction of a "Puerto Rican Travel Pillow" is described, and the use of screws on the arms is clearly specified. ?
Selected references:
The first lace made in Puerto Rico was called torchon ("beggar's lace"). Early examples of beggar's lace were considered of inferior quality, but artisans today have transformed this fabric into a delicate art form, eagerly sought by collectors.
~ lacefairy.com - third related page ~
Selected references:
The hole should be slightly larger then the diameter of the wood screws, this will allow the pillow to be rotated.
What controls the roller from being 'too tight', or spinning 'too freely'?
lacefairy.com - fourth and fifth related pages.
~ Roller Pillows ~
~ Bolster Pillows ~
The reference and distinction made between bolster pillows and roller pillows begs the question of historical timeline, and development of the two types. Is the distinction universal? Are the terms sometimes or in some places used interchangeably? It would seem likely, that being of simpler construction, that bolster pillows could precede the development of roller pillows significantly. What historical documentation is known about this? 'Travel' pillows, and 'mini' pillows are commonly of the 'roller' type. Is there a historical context that can be brought to this general statement?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ "Beginners guide....." - sixth related page ~
The above page references "...the 3 major groups..." and does not include bolster pillows at all. Perhaps because this is considered a 'beginners' page. 'Cookie' and 'sectional' pillows seems to be the hot thing for beginners.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ kleinhout.com ~
Kleinhout does refer to German and Italian 'Roll Pillows', which I would typcially classify as a bolster pillow, and am certainly assuming a regional variance in terminology in this case. ?
~ See items #1 through #9 ~
Item (picture) #5 clearly shows the arms in a new 'style'. Not round over the top and 'non-functional' beyond roller attachment, but with a concave section that would allow for temporary relocation of currently unused bobbins. ? The samples shown are not designs where a large number of pairs are being used. A screw or nut is shown in this example, not a knob.
Item (picture) #8 is primarily of interest because of the amazing final product that is shown.
Item (picture) #9 gets us back to business. The pillow clearly appears to be home made, clearly shows grooves cut into the arms, and clearly shows the use of the screw yet again as the attachment mechanism with this specific style.
~ Small image on this page that seems to clearly show the usage bobbin 'notches'. ~
This resource (as all) requires follow-up. No information is provided, but the pillow style is a match, and for the first time we see bobbins actually set aside on the notches.
~ www.historical-museum.org ~
We now have a second example of a small roller pillow with notched arms, and the arms are in use with non-working bobbins temporarily set aside.
Selected references:
Rosa Ena Torruella, whose home is now Jacksonville, was taught by her grandmother in Puerto Rico to make traditional bobbin lace. ..... The cylinder is covered with velvet and mounted on a wooden stand with notches around the rim, one for each wooden bobbin of thread.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
".....one for each wooden bobbin of thread."
This seems unlikely. ? Perhaps a misunderstanding between artist and writer. ? If true, this is new information and additional documentation is needed. Perhaps it is 'sometimes true', and depends upon artist and region. ?
~ efsacco.wordpress.com ~
Notched and un-notched examples of similar style pillows.
Selected references:
mundillista = lacemaker
telar = Lap box that a lacemaker uses. (Also called mundillo.)
In the past, telars were fashioned from recycled wood-fruit boxes or furniture drawers.
As the lace is worked, the roll is rotated back, and the pins further away are reused for the new section. There's no set size for the box, and its dimensions can be adjusted to fit the person, or the project.
Today, a lathe is used, before, folks used a knife or blade and whittled the bobbin out of coffee branches, or other types of branches collected from the countryside.
The waves of immigration to Puerto Rico brought many people from countries with a lace tradition - Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Corsica, Malta, Germany among other places. During the late 18th century, the slave uprisings on Saint Domingue, and later, the Real Cedula de Gracias of 1815 brought many persons from France who settled on the west side of the island. Mundillo was also practiced in Cuba, and while the islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba and Santo Domingo were under Spanish rule, administrators and their families moved from one island to another to undertake government appointments during the nineteenth century. The blending of traditions continued.
~ museodelmundillo.org - Museo de Mundillo ~
Puerto Rican lace museum in Moca, 'capital of lace making in Puerto Rico.
Selected references:
From the 'Historia' (History) page:
Approximate initial translation of selected portions.
The origin of lace and it's history is quite confusing. Historians find the first examples in Egypt, others in Italy, and still others France. Links to the fabric of lace are found throughout Europe ..... Today our lacemakers come from all social classes. .... The first priority of the Lace Museum of Puerto Rico is to tell the history ..... our cultural history.
We can get a more complete and accurate translation as the research project continues. This is just a sample. The gallery page used to show one or more pillows that looked very much like Dr. Hart's. That link is currently broken. Experts from this resource may be very helpful in advancing and organizing the research of pillows similar to Dr. Hart's, as well as the relationship to very similar pillows that do not have the notched arms.
~ spanishdict.com ~
Translator good for words and short phrases.
Taller = shop
Taller de Artesanos = craft studio
~ History of Lace ~
Selected references:
In the King James version of the Bible, Isaiah, Chapter 19, verse 9, states: Moreover, they that work in fine flax and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.
The most ancient specimens of lace in existence are pieces of knotted hair nets found in the tombs of Thebes and other parts of Egypt, some of which date back as far as 2500 BC.
Bobbin laces and embroidered laces have been recovered from Egyptian Coptic tombs of the 3rd to 7th Centuries AD whilst other remains in the Coptic tombs indicate that the bobbin laces were made not on a pillow with pins, but on a wooden frame with pegs to hold the threads apart. Today we refer to this type of lace as Sprang Weaving.
There are several types of lace such as bobbin lace, needlelace, braid lace, tape lace, netting, embroidered lace, etc., which have their origins in many kinds of needlework and weaving and from the way that lace developed almost simultaneously in the maritime centres of Venice, Genoa and Ragusa, there is a theory that lace was brought from China, especially as the lace concerned had a distinctly oriental pattern to it and emerged as a fully developed art. The pattern books of the day and the surviving pieces of lace show none of the clumsy beginnings developing into the polished end result. Flanders has also claimed to be the birthplace of lace but they can only produce documents referring to lace from 1495 and the Italians have documentation dated 1476. Another theory is that the Crusaders brought it back with them from the Levant.
~ bible.cc/isaiah/19-9.htm - Biblical quotation variations. ~
Multiple translations of bible quotation from above section:
Most of my searches for a 'Spanish Lace Pillow' brought me to pages that showed a pillow quite tall, and very narrow to the length. The connection to Puerto Rico seems very strong. No examples have been found from any other country. Surely, the style has expanded within the region, beyond the islands of Puerto Rico.? Or no? 'Notched' examples specifically?
~ madejasycafe.blogspot.com translates to 'Skeins and Coffee' or 'Hanks and Coffee' ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
She has four videos available.
~ Madejas Bobbin Lace Making no.1: ~
~ Madejas Bobbin Lace Making no.2: ~
~ Bobbn Lace - How to Start Part 1: ~
~ Bobbn Lace - How to Start - Part 2: ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ Classes available. ~
She is based in Corazal, Puerto Rico.
Descripcion:
Soy artesana certificada y le invito a aprender el arte de hacer encajes de mundillo, tejido (crochet), confección de ropa de bebe y accesorios a mano, fagottin y bordado. Las clases son privadas en mi hogar, tengo flexibilidad de horarios, incluyendo noches y fines de semana. Las clases son para jóvenes y adultos desde los 13 años en adelante. Costo: Cada clase tiene una duración de dos horas - $20/clase. No cobro matrícula.
I wish that rI emembered more of my minimal Spanish, but this is a pretty good translation of her text.
Description:
I am a certified artisan and invite you to learn the art of making bobbin lace, crochet, making baby clothes and accessories by hand, fagottin and embroidery. Classes are private in my home, and I have flexible hours, including nights and weekends. Classes are for children and adults from ages 13 and up. Cost: $20 per class. Each class is two hours. No regesitration fee.
Searched Google's first 20 pages of image specific results (50 results per page; 1000 total results for images for both searches - lace pillow - and - puerto rico lace pillow -
