Exhibit – The Twelve Days of Christmas
Handmade ornaments created and donated by members of The Lace Museum
Years ago the museum founders began the tradition of decorating Christmas globes with lace and selling them to help support the museum. Inspired by this tradition members of the museum have made and donated similar decorations both for sale and for the permanent collection. The museum is proud to present a selection of the ornaments in the collection in this first virtual exhibit. Please click on an image for a larger view.
Hearts within a Star Ornament
Circa:
1992
Medium:
cotton bobbin lace, metal ring
Description:
Handmade bobbin lace seven pointed star and hearts, outlined in heavy gimp, set inside a metal ring. Made especially for the museum by one of America’s leading pioneer lace makers, Mary McPeek (1909-2007).
Note:
vertical circle
Dimensions:
diameter 6.99 cm (2.75 inches)
Museum Number:
1992.1784.001
Large Vintage Machine Lace Ornament
Circa:
1997
Medium:
vintage machine cotton lace, glass globe
Description:
White Schiffli machine embroidered padded rose motifs on transparent organza fabric, mounted on a large handblown red mercury globe. Assembled by museum founder, Cherie Helm. Made from a lace remnant acquired from her mother, known as Martineau Modiste (ca. 1960) of Walnut Creek, California.
Note:
sphere
Dimensions:
diameter 15.25 cm (6.00 inches)
Museum Number:
1997.0433.108
Christmas Angel Ornament
Circa:
2009
Medium:
machine cotton/synthetic lace, cotton thread tassel, glass and plastic beads, ribbon embellishments
Description:
Christmas angel with wings of modern machine lace, thread tassel body, with a beaded crown. Embellished with a white ribbon bow, ribbon rose and hanging string of beads. Assembled by museum volunteer, Ada Loewer, who made dozens of angels sold by the museum during annual holiday exhibits.
Note:
flat irregular
Dimensions:
height 11.45 cm (4.50 inches) x width 11.45 cm (4.50 inches) x thickness 1.25 cm (.50 inches)
Museum Number:
2009.1136.001
Interlaced Heart Ornament
Circa:
2011
Medium:
linen bobbin lace
Description:
Traditional handmade linen bobbin lace heart “pocket”, constructed from two interlaced halves, one red, one white. Presented by a visitor to the museum from Denmark.
Note:
flat irregular
Dimensions:
height 12.70 cm (5.00 inches) x width 8.89 cm (3.50 inches)
Museum Number:
2011.1408.001
Clover Leaf Motif Ornament
Circa:
2012
Medium:
cotton tatted lace, glass globe
Description:
Elegant handmade tatting of green cotton thread with a clover leaf design, mounted on a matte pearl glass globe. Made by board member, lace teacher and docent, Eleanor Schwartz, who contributes annually to the museum holiday sale.
Note:
sphere
Dimensions:
diameter 5.72 cm (2.25 inches)
Museum Number:
2012.0208.001
Holly Wreath within a Star Ornament
Circa:
2012
Medium:
cotton bobbin lace, synthetic metallic thread, bead embellishment
Description:
Five pointed bobbin lace star in half-stitch, with an edge interlaced with a heavy gold thread gimp and plaited edge, surrounding an inner white beaded wreath with dark green bobbin lace tallies as “holly” leaves and red beads as “berries”. Assembled by Paula Harten, board member and volunteer.
Note:
flat irregular
Dimensions:
height 12.70 cm (5.00 inches) x width 12.70 cm (5.00 inches)
Museum Number:
2012.0208.002
Beaded Intertwining Stars Ornament
Circa:
2012
Medium:
bobbin lace, bead embellishment, metal ring
Description:
Entertwining bobbin lace star with 10 points, mounted inside a metal ring with translucent green and bernished gold faceted beads. Made by museum board member and volunteer, Paula Harten for the museum.
Note:
vertical circle
Dimensions:
diameter 6.35 cm ( 2.50 inches)
Museum Number:
2012.0208.004
Star within a Star Ornament
Circa:
2012
Medium:
crocheted cotton lace
Description:
Six pointed white crocheted star within a star snowflake. Made for the museum by Elizabeth Kurella, known as The Lace Merchant, teacher and author of lace identifcation books.
Note:
flat irregular
Dimensions:
height 10.16 cm (4.00 inches) x width 10.16 cm (4.00 inches)
Museum Number:
2012.0425.001
Orenburg Inspired Lace Ornament
Circa:
2016
Medium:
knitted cotton lace, glass globe
Description:
Knitted white Orenburg inspired lace, mounted with beading on a red matte globe, lace inspired by Galena Khmeleva’s knitted lace patterns. Made for the museum by Teresa Mize, board member and docent.
Note:
sphere
Dimensions:
diameter 10.16 cm (4.00 inches)
Museum Number:
2016.0380.001
Tatted Ornament
Circa:
2016
Medium:
cotton tatted lace, glass globe
Description:
Handmade white tatted lace, pattern adapted especially to fit a Christmas ornament, and mounted on a red onion-shaped globe. Made for the museum by Eleanore Schwartz, who annually contributes ornaments for museum events. She serves as a board member, lace teacher and docent.
Note:
spherical onion-shape
Dimensions:
height 5.08 cm (2.00 inches) x width 6.35 cm (2.5 inches)
Museum Number:
2016.0466.002
Paisley Wire Ornament
Circa:
2016
Medium:
metal wire bobbin lace, beads
Description:
Wire bobbin lace paisley motif, handmade with copper wire with tiny maroon seed beads around edge, designed by Lenika Suchanek. Made by Susan Meyer (2016), who served as a board member, docent and volunteer.
Note:
flat irregular
Dimensions:
height 8.89 cm (3.50 inches) x width 5.08 cm (2.00 inches)
Museum Number:
2016.0539.010
Beaded Net Ornament
Circa:
2017
Medium:
beaded netting, glass globe
Description:
Beaded netting giving a lacy effect. Made with red, green, silver glass beads, with added stars and tassels of more beading. Made by Linda Ladendorf and donated by her teacher for the museum collection.
Note:
spherical irregular
Dimensions:
diameter 7.62 cm (3.00 inches)
Museum Number:
2017.3035.001