PILLOW LACE.
Pillow Lace. By Elizabeth Miucoff, Ph.D., and Margaret S. Marriage, MA. Illustrations by Ernest Marriage. (John Murray. 15s.)—This book, which the authors call "a practical handbook," has also some interesting and well-written chapters on the history of pillow-lace. The origin of this art is wrapped in mystery. The earliest known book of patterns was published at Venice in 1557, and forty years after that a lady with the quaint name of Elisabeth Catanea Parasole brought out another for laces which are now known as Cluny, from the fact that specimens are to be found in the Paris museum of that name. The industry soon spread all over Europe, and reached the height of its prosperity about a hundred years later in France, in the time of Colbert, Louis XIV.'s Minister. From that time lace- making gradually declined, but in the present day there has been a considerable revival of it. After the interesting historical sketch, the authors go on to describe minutely each step that should be taken by a lace-maker. Beginning with the pillow, bobbins, pins, winder, and thread, we are taken systematically through every process till the worker can produce really fine and beautiful lace. The lessons are carefully graduated and clearly expressed, and it should be a matter of no very great difficulty, though of much patience, for any woman to produce a satisfactory piece of lace by the help of this book. The diagrams and patterns are clearly drawn, and are of practical use for collars, ties, doilies, Jo., as well as for edgings and insertions of various widths.
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