YAK BOBBIN LACE
A bobbin lace made of fine wool

CHARACTERISTICS
•  Straight bobbin lace
•  Ground - Torchon or cinq trous ground with no gimp
•  Thread – fine wool yarn
•  Design – geometrical motifs: often scalloped edge and raised wheat ears

HISTORY
Introduced in 1870, this lace, originally produced from yak hair, was made in England from worsted. Patterns were mainly Torchon or Maltese, with a simple Torchon or cinq trous (five hole) ground.

Being very heavy and thick, it was used mainly to trim capes, winter dresses and furniture. Black yak laces were often used on mourning dress, particularly on outer garments.

Its popularity was short lived, partly because it was difficult to work as the threads tended to catch and drag on each other instead of gliding smoothly as flax or cotton would do.

REFERENCE:
Bullock, A. Lace and Lace Making, Batsford, London, 1981
Earnshaw, P.     The Identification of Lace, Shire publications, 1994  
Stainer & Bell, The History of Lace, London 1979
Toomer, H.        LACE: A Guide To Identification Of Old Lace Types & Techniques

© Valerie Cavill 2008