HISTORY OF LACEMAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA: by Manie Kriel

South Africa has no history of Lacemaking compared to the European countries. Wealthy ladies brought the lace collections with them or it was inherited from relatives in Europe.

After the Anglo-Boer war of 1900, Emily Hobhouse, a social worker from England (born 9 April 1860 in St Ives, Cornwall) assisted the devastated Boer nation to uplift themselves. She was thinking of starting lacemaking as a home industry scheme, so that they could use their time both productively and profitably. She was very much impressed with their sewing and crochet skills and if woman in Holland and Italy could do lacemaking on a profitable basis, why not in South Africa.

During 1908 Emily Hobhouse, accompanied by Johanna Rood, a nineteen-year-old girl from Ermelo, Transvaal, went to Europe to study lacemaking in München, Milaan, Venice and Burano. There Johanna was taught the art as well as how to organize and administer such an industry. In Italy a patronizing committee, Amelia Ars., whose job it was to protect lacemakers from exploitation assigned a lady, Lucia Starace to accompany Johanna back to South Africa. They started the first lace school, in an old military barracks, at Koppies in the Orange Free State and Johanna was appointed the first principal.

Due to the vastness of the country, it was almost impossible for most girls to travel to the school. Johanna en Lucia visited farmhouses on horseback, where they founded study groups. For economical reasons they concentrated on needle laces, which the girls enjoyed tremendously, because all that was needed was material, threads and a needle. Lace samples were periodically send to Amelia Ars for assessment. The committee was extremely impressed with the high quality of work, considering the short period in which they managed to achieve it. Incidentally one of the pupils was a Hannah Kriel – perhaps a relative of mine!

In Koppies the first true South African pattern “Wag-‘n-bietjie” (a South African Acacia tree), designed by Emily herself were born. Today a marvelous lace collection and original letters of Miss Hobhouse are treasures in trust at the Old Age Home in Koppies. As a result of financial difficulties the Lace School had to close down in 1938. Many of these magnificent pieces, made by mothers and grand mothers, are still privately owned.
 

There are beautiful lace collections housed by several museums and art galleries in South Africa
 

LACE GUILDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Although South Africa is relatively a beginner at lacemaking, we have a couple of very active Lace Guilds and numerous small study groups that meet socially for lacemaking. We are internationally known for the high quality of work and designs by some of our dedicated lacemakers.
Betty Kruger has displayed lace at OIDFA meetings and quite a few of her designs feature in International publications.
Jean Horn has also displayed lace at OIDFA and privately published a few booklets on using color in lace. She has traveled extensively abroad to give talks.
Helena Richter does exquisite lace and some of her priced pieces features in a book on Duchess by Yvonnee Scheele-Kerkhof.

1. WITWATERSRAND LACE GUILD
The Witwatersrand Lace Guild was started in 1980 with a small group of ladies with little knowledge. Jean Horne, with the help of Doreen Wright (founder chairlady of the English Lace Guild) started planning the birth of the Guild at a meeting in 1979. At the beginning it was hard to find equipment, ans much ingenuity was shown in the making of one’s own pillows and other necessities. Many a husband was prevailed to get into his workshop to turn out Bobbins. South Africa, being so far from Europe experience difficulties in obtaining supplies. Orders were place with the Springets and later with other suppliers too. After a lot of hard work it has grown to a large membership and is proud of the number of excellent lacemakers. Meetings are held every second Saturday of the Month at … centre. The Guild magazine “The Lace Chatter” is published quarterly from 1982 with articles relating to lace, prickings by local designers, hints etc.
CONTACTS:
Susan Williams, PO Box 2782, Parklands 2121, South Africa. Telephone +27 11 477 4409
 

2. CAPE LACE GUILD
The Cape Lace Guild was formed in September 1982.
3. NATAL LACE GUILD
4. PRETORIA LACE GUILD

Places of intrest:

The Lace Place
Janis Savage P O Box 2126,Honeydew 2040
South Africa (near Johannesburg) ,Tel: 011 958 1463 Email: lacemakr@mweb.co.za