Does The Dance of Aqcuisition

[deborahw37]

Why, you may ask, is this person posting a picture of a slightly grubby lace tablecloth ? Well the answer is that this is hand tatted lace and whitework on rather lovely fine linen. I think it's Edwardian and it cost me, (despite my protestations that the charity shop were wildly underpricing and they should ebay it or something) £2.00 because "

Comments

[cmcmck]

We own a 1950's Ercol table and four chairs dining set which was given to us and that I spent £400 having restored. The local Sally shop had the selfsame set in need of a little TLC which I had to persuade them really hard to put into an auction where it raised them £250. They'd been asking £25!

Our restored set would sell for in the region of £2,500!

Charity shops often seem to have no idea! I lived for a time in Brugge in Belgium and know what good lace is worth!

[deborahw37]

I do quite frequently tell this particular shop that they need to get some volunteer expert advice on pricing in.. they sometimes overprice bits of costume jewelry or clothing and wildly underprice things like this!

The Sally shop has some good furniture bargains but charities which have an online shop and a pricing team can raise so much more from some items; to salve my conscience I shall buy more books from them :)

Ohhhh Brugge lace! lovely! Tatted lace isn't worth so much but that cloth represents hundreds of hours of work; so sad in a way to see it sold for less than a T towel but I shall love and cherish it

[cmcmck]

Every book purchased acquires the purchaser merit! :o)

[deborahw37]

Well in that case I positively radiate merit!

[petzipellepingo]

As something with a lot of tablecloths, that's a very nice one. Congratulations.

[deborahw37]

I have a fair few myself and this is a beauty!

[kazzy_cee]

Oh - pretty! That'll come up a treat with a good wash and hanging in some sunshine :)

I do like a good white table cloth.

[deborahw37]

And a spot of dew bleaching!

I shall fettle it up this weekend and then clear starch it; because that's what it needs and deserves!

[pondhopper]

That is the ultimate and most gorgeous bargain ever, Deb. I always wonder about the history of the item, who made it, whose table it graced...
It is simply stunning! My mother knew how to do hand tatting so I've seen a fair bit of work like that in my life.

[deborahw37]

My Grandmother tried to teach me to do tatting but I couldn't get that hang of it. I think I still have a tatting shuttle somewhere.

But she did teach me to darn and embroider and I bless her for both of those skills!

I'd love to know who made this; there are hundreds of hours of work in that lace and embroidery. I shall cherish it!

[thedabara_cds]

That is amazing - what a lucky find!! Stunningly beautiful!!

Man, I wanna go to England and go shopping with you someday!

[deborahw37]

You would be very welcome; Mind you bargains like this are not a regular occurrence :)