Thomas Lester, His Lace and the East Midlands Industry 1820-1905

The nineteenth century saw a sad decline in the fortunes of the English hand-made lace industry yet in the East Midlands the period also witnessed some of its most interesting and remarkable designs. A key figure in this achievement was the Bedford lace merchant Thomas Lester. This book sets his designs and the development of his family business against the fashions of the period, the conditions in the industry and of its workers, and the relentless competition from machine made lace. The quality of his lace is assessed and illustrated from examples surviving in the collections of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford and the Luton Museum, Bedfordshire. AUTHOR: Anne Buck OBE is an international authority on English costume. As Keeper of the Gallery of English Costume at Platt Hall, Manchester, she built up a world-renowned collection which is particularly rich in children's clothing. She is the author of several books and articles on costume and dress and has lectured widely on the subject. SELLING POINTS: ? An informative book covering the history of the East Midlands hand-made lace industry during the nineteenth century ? Thomas Lester was a key figure in this period producing some remarkable designs ? Surviving examples of his lace are illustrated ? Anne Buck is an international authority on English costume ILLUSTRATIONS: 80 b/w photos