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! Ten items – April 10, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/3rnh8xk Armenian Bebilla Needle Lace Table Runner Handmade Size: 12″ x 25″ Starting price: $29.99 Auction ends: Apr 12, 2011 18:36:21 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller drb3905, Ocala, FL 34471, United States Comments: Appears to be an excellent example of … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Eight items – April 7, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4yy8qqx 2 antique Point de France needle lace panels 1680-1690 Size: each 58 cm long; 7cm wide one end, 12 cm wide opposite end Starting price: 180.00 GPB Auction ends: Apr 10, 2011 10:05:11 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller linskapet, … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Seven items – April 3, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/3ul33qc Antique Lace Bobbin Winder With 24 Assor. Lace Bobbins Size: 12″ high, 13″ across Starting price: $298.00 Auction ends: Apr 04, 2011 19:28:31 PDT Offered by: Carolyn Forbes, Ebay seller oldestuffe, Long Beach, California, United States Comments: This English … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Nine items – March 27, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4m5cw2f Fine 1890-1900s ORNATE Handmade Lace Collar SILK LUSH Starting price: $64.00 Auction ends: Mar 27, 2011 19:14:52 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller gb-best, Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains Pennsylvania, United States Comments: Good silk Irish Crochet doesn’t come up that … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Six items – March 24, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4mrrmac 19thC HM FINE & LONG CHANTILLY LACE FLOUNCE Starting price: $325.00 Buy it Now Auction ends: Mar 25, 2011 19:11:34 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller snakey03rr, Bourbon, Missouri, United States Comments: Two 11″ wide lengths of Chantilly, doesn’t say … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Three Items – March 20, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4c42gfn Vintage ANTIQUE MALTESE LACE SCARF silk stole Starting price: 12.99 GBP Auction ends: Mar 21, 2011 14:25:03 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller goodbuyeuk, English Countryside, United Kingdom Comments: Interesting Maltese scarf.  Some interesting figures. A bit hard to judge … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Five Items – March 17, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4h6tpk7 MANNEQUIN DE DENTELLIERE NORMANDE ET SA TABLE Starting price: 50.00 EUR Auction ends: 20 mars 2011 20:27:05 Paris Offered by: Ebay seller thevintage27, HARDENCOURT COCHEREL, Haute-Normandie, France métropolitaine Comments: I’m fascinated by this thing. It does look like a … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Three items – March 13, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/6b8ov6m BRUSSELS LACE FAN-EVENTAIL-VENTAGLIO-ABANICO Starting price: $149.00 Auction ends: Mar 14, 2011 07:48:05 PDT Offered by: Ebay seller fanlady24, Padova, PD, Italy Comments: Very good fan of Duchesse de Bruxelles (with point de gaze inserts), with imitation blonde tortoiseshell sticks.  … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Eight Items – March 10, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4djxnf2 POINT DE GAZE & DUCHESSE LACE 1860 HANDM 93 x 12″ BROAD! Starting price: $49.99 Auction ends: Mar 11, 2011 17:51:54 PST Offered by: Ebay seller seltmeister, simmerath, Germany Comments: A good length of bobbin and needlelace application machine net. … Continue reading

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Ebay Alerts! Eight Items – March 6, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4dz8zxn Lovely *Old *Antique* Handmade? Net * Lace Trim Collar Starting price: $9.99 Auction ends: Mar 06, 2011 07:21:52 PST Offered by: Ebay seller igloo*, San Francisco, United States Comments: A large collar of high quality Duchesse, with a few needlelace … Continue reading

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