Pillow for Making Bobbin Lace ("Tombolo")

Datation and origin: 19th Century, Koper.

An oval pillow covered with printed fabric; inside is a cardboard case for storing bobbins and yarn, which can be pulled out. The bobbins were originally made from animal bones; rich bourgeoises also used bobbins made of ivory. They wound linen, cotton or silk threads onto them, with which they created a pattern. At first the bobbin lace makers placed the oval pillow in their laps; afterwards they fixed it to a wooden base and later on placed it in a basket.