Category Archives: Ebay Alerts!

I now do these posts every Sunday, but will also add things throught the week that might end before the next Sunday. Not only is it an opportunity to make collectors aware of fast-moving listings, but it gives me the chance to talk about lace, giving individual examples my full attention. I don’t like to do big postings covering an entire category of lace – I would rather delve into pieces one at a time. It’s the microscopic, rather than the macroscopic approach.

I select the pieces based on what appeals to me – I never take solicitations from sellers (and I have been asked). If I seem to be favoring certain dealers, it is, to put it bluntly, because they are consistently listing the best material. I am not on a mission to correct misinformation, or to denigrate any type of lace. I am giving my own opinion, and if that conflicts with what a seller has written, chalk it up to free speech. I sometimes, but not often, contact sellers for clarification, or to discuss my comments before they are posted, but I’m trying to speak for the lace and the lacemaker first and foremost.

There are a few thresholds for a piece to be considered for posting. Condition is important. I won’t review a good piece if the condition is poor, unless there is an overwhelming consideration of rarity or provenance. I also don’t resonate a lot with short samples, even though the lace may be very good, the same goes for different laces posted in one lot. Presentation does count, if a photo is so poor or lacking in the closeup detail needed to tell if it is handmade, then the item will be passed by. I also try not to review the same piece more than once – if I do it’s a mistake. If a piece is relisted I try to update that information on the original Ebay Alert, but it’s hard to keep up. I will also issue Special Ebay Alerts outside the Sun/Thurs postings for extraordinary pieces.

I make it a habit to post pieces on which I would be likely to bid; I think it unethical to ‘reserve’ things for myself by leaving them off this list. I also try hard to avoid any discussion of price – the bidding history and final price is available on Ebay and tells that story much better than I can. I do add the final price and number of bidders to the review after the auction is over, and I am organizing all the items into a final summary to eventually be posted on the LaceNews Web Site. I do keep track of far more than I actually post, in fact only about 25% of what I follow makes it to an Ebay Alert.

The descriptions of the laces looks rather strictly formatted, but has undergone some evolution, and I am considering adding a separate catorgory where I can discuss dating issues. I’ve recently completely redone the condition comments, dividing these into four categories. ‘Modification’ is meant to describe any change from the original form of the piece. ‘Damage’ involves breaks or tears; something that would have to be repaired by a knowledgeable lacemaker. ‘Soilage’ indicates staining, discoloration, rust spots, and something called ‘patina’, a concept not well understood. I also note if any recent washing has taken place. The last condition category is ‘finish’, and by this I mean creasing, wrinkling, shrinkage; anything that affects the condition of the lace but is not actual damage.

Some people think it isn’t worthwhile to buy on Ebay because the quality is poor. I hope they keep thinking that way so there is less competition. The truth is very different. Ebay and related sites are increasingly accepted alternative selling forums, and even longtime antique dealers ignore them at their peril.
By the way, Ebay no longer lets you see purchaser identifications. Everything has been reduced to cryptic initials and stars. Mine are a***s for my lswaters account. I do have one more account, lacenews619, and I’m actually not sure what the initials are for that one.

Ebay Alerts! Twelve items – December 4, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7yd6wmv 19thc Irish Crochet Lace Large Collar Large Col Dentelle Crochet Irlande Size: 15″ neck edge Starting Price: $45.00 Auction ends: Dec 05, 2011 19:05:40 PST Offered by: Ebay seller sirjle, Paris, France Comments: An Irish Crochet collar formed of just a … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Fifteen items – December 1, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/caz4lno FRENCH ALENCON NEEDLE LACE LAPPETS ca 1760 Size: 4″ x 59″ Starting Price: $10.00 with reserve Auction ends: Dec 03, 2011 15:00:00 PST Offered by: Ebay seller eastayton, London, England, United Kingdom Comments: A pair of Alencon lappets, joined together … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Fourteen items – November 27, 2011

 http://tinyurl.com/7yopndj Antique Milanese handmade bobbin lace large Bertha lovely collar Size: 43″ inside edge, 7.5″ wide Starting Price: 59.99 GBP Auction ends: Nov 28, 201107:57:24 PST Offered by: Ebay discover4, London, United Kingdom Comments: A bertha of Belgian bobbinlace that normally … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Sixteen items – November 20, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/72t62sm ANTIQUE HAND MADE BEDFORD SHIRE BOBBIN LACE HANDKERCHIEF HANKIE PENZANCE ENGLAND Size: not given Starting price: $49.99 Auction ends: Nov 20, 2011 18:34:21 PST Offered by: Ebay seller  mulgaking, Victoria, BC, Canada Comments: A Beds handkerchief with an attached tag … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Thirteen items – November 17, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/75vj9oy ** Très beau et grand fichu de deuil en dentelle de chantilly noire **275x 140 Size: 140 cm x 275 cm Starting price: 35.00 EUR Auction ends: Nov 18, 2011 06:07:16 PST Offered by: Ebay seller  isabond007, villemomble, Île-de-France, France … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Eighteen items – November 13, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/cdoe4sy ANTIQUE LACE-BOBBIN LACE BORDER Size: 3.5″ x 113″ Starting price: $29.99 Auction ends: Nov 14, 2011 14:13:01 PST Offered by: Maria Niforos, Ebay seller mithya, London-New York, United States Comments: There are some 18th century Flemish pieces that look … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Ninteen items – November 10, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7afj256 Museum quality ANTIQUE lace flounce Brussels Duchesse Point de gaze lappet trim Size: not given Starting price: $495.00 Buy-it-Now Auction ends: Nov 11, 2011 09:35:26 PST Offered by: Ebay seller all things shabby, United States Comments: A Brussels Duchesse … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Twelve Items – November 6, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7ttdg6s 80″ ANTIQUE HANDMADE? BRUSSELS POINT DE GAZE LACE, DOLLS COSTUMING!! Size: 3″ x 80″ Starting price: $6.99 Auction ends: Nov 07, 2011 17:00:26 PST Offered by: Ebay seller ginnydolldolls, UPSTATE, NY, United States Comments: This little border of Point … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Fifteen items – November 3, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/3ruw5l9 RARE FRENCH ANTIQUE LACE COLLAR handmade Size: 17.5″ outside, 12.5″ inside, 1.25″ wide Starting price: 19.99 GBP Auction ends: Nov 05, 2011 12:26:21 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller ryphat, Paris, France Comments: One might be tempted to pass this … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Fourteen items – October 30, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/3pspmyn Antique Honiton handmade lace nice size collar Size: 17″ neck edge, 8.25″ wide Starting price: 19.99 GBP Auction ends: Oct 31, 2011 09:30:58 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller discover4, London, United Kingdom Comments: A fairly wide Honiton collar. The … Continue reading

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