These hand drawn lace designs for embroidered net Limerick lace are part of a collection of lace and patterns that the donor's mother, Edith Mary Georgeson (nee Lester), brought to Australia in 1912. Edith Mary originally from Count Cork in Ireland, had been a professional lacemaker making mostly hand-embroidered machine made net lace of the kind known as "Limerick Lace". Some of the designs are labelled by hand with the name of the designer and "School of Art, Cork". Limerick lace was one of the laces credited with rescuing many poor families from starvation during the numerous crop failures of the 19th Century. Other equally notable laces made at this time were Carrickmacross, another embroidered lace, Youghal needle lace and "Irish" (relief) crochet.

Edith was married in Cork, Ireland, in 1906 and came out to Australia with her husband George six years later. The donor was then six months old. George Georgeson was taking up a position with the Commonwealth Oil Refineries and the family settled in Sydney.

Outlines for the designs for Limerick lace are drawn on architect's linen or tracing paper and placed either in front of the worker or under the net. The designs usually have only the briefest indications of which filling stitch is to be used, presumably allowing the maker to make the final decision.

These designs were made by Edith Mary Lester and Maude Hodkinson in Cork, Ireland between 1900 and 1912.

These hand drawn lace designs for embroidered net Limerick lace are part of a collection of lace and patterns that the donor's mother, a professional lacemaker in County Cork, brought to Australia in 1912.

Lace designs (5), hand drawn, for embroidered net Limerick lace, paper / linen, made by Edith Mary Lester / Maude Hodkinson, Cork, Ireland, 1900-1912

Five hand drawn lace designs on paper and linen for embroidered net Limerick lace. One design made on a piece of square white linen features a floral and circualar design, one design on brown linen featrues a floral design for a collarette and includes makers marks. The three remaining designs are made on paper and feature floral patterns. The design for the fan includes makers marks.

Made: 1900 - 1912

See part records for details.

2007/186/5

1900 - 1912