E-text prepared by Susan Skinner and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 26120-h.htm or 26120-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/1/2/26120/26120-h/26120-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/1/2/26120/26120-h.zip) CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK by MRS. LOWES * * * * * BOOKS FOR COLLECTORS _With Frontispieces and many Illustrations Large Crown 8vo, cloth._ CHATS ON ENGLISH CHINA. By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON OLD FURNITURE. By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON OLD PRINTS. (How to collect and value Old Engravings.) By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON COSTUME. By G. Woolliscroft Rhead. CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK. By E. L. Lowes. CHATS ON ORIENTAL CHINA. By J. F. Blacker. CHATS ON OLD MINIATURES. By J. J. Foster, F.S.A. CHATS ON ENGLISH EARTHENWARE. By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON AUTOGRAPHS. By A. M. Broadley. CHATS ON PEWTER. By H. J. L. J. Masse, M.A. CHATS ON POSTAGE STAMPS. By Fred. J. Melville. CHATS ON OLD JEWELLERY AND TRINKETS. By MacIver Percival. CHATS ON COTTAGE AND FARMHOUSE FURNITURE. By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON OLD COINS. By Fred. W. Burgess CHATS ON OLD COPPER AND BRASS. By Fred. W. Burgess. CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS. By Fred. W. Burgess. CHATS ON OLD SILVER. By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON JAPANESE PRINTS. By Arthur Davison Ficke. CHATS ON MILITARY CURIOS. By Stanley C. Johnson. CHATS ON OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES. By Arthur Hayden. CHATS ON ROYAL COPENHAGEN PORCELAIN. By Arthur Hayden. LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD. NEW YORK: F. A. STOKES COMPANY * * * * * [Illustration: Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke.] MARY SIDNEY, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE. Born about 1555. Died 1621. Buried at Salisbury Cathedral. Painted probably by MARC GHEERAEDTS. "Underneath this sable hearse Lies the subject of all verse. Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother. Death! ere thou hast slain another Fair and learn'd and good as she, Time shall throw a dart at thee!" CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK by MRS. LOWES With 76 Illustrations London T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd. Adelphi Terrace First Impression 1908 Second Impression 1912 Third Impression 1919 [All rights reserved.] PREFACE This little book has been compiled to emphasise and accentuate the distinct awakening of English women and Needlecraft Artists to the beauty of the ancient laces and embroideries which we own in the magnificent historic collections in our great public Museums.