Saturday 7 October 2023

rosettes

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 In tatting, we often come across different names for the same technique/effect and the same name for different techniques! (jot it down to various reasons - historical, linguistic, ignorance, non-standardization, ....).  One example of the latter is Rosette. This historical term refers to at least three different styles as evident in the collage below!

Our newest game in the Endrucks 1920 Project FB group involves the third motif and it seemed a good opportunity to address this situation and refresh my knowledge.


They are arranged along evolutionary lines -

1. Single ring with picots aka central ring. Tatted with a single thread. This was a common starting medallion in numerous antique patterns, and the thread was tied and cut after each! Now, we climb out with a mock picot or if possible, we work it as a thrown ring for continuous tatting.

2. Outward facing rings, often called a daisy or flower. Again, tatted with a single thread and the rings are joined to each other to create beautiful medallions. It helps that joining on the go was discovered. The number of rings can determine the shape and size.

Rosace is a term used by several non-English speaking tatters, to address this formation. eg. Maria Papia's earrings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbqLn8xTaGU) and Lilas Lace's pictorial of Edwige Renaudin's Double Rosace (https://lilas-lace.fr/blog/2014/02/28/diy-a-double-rosace-diy-une-rosade-a-double-rangee-danneaux/)

3. Concentric chains around a central ring. Each chain segment is joined to the picot below from the previous round. The entire medallion is worked continuously, but requires two threads. Obviously this came into existence after the discovery of tatted chains.

In the sample above, the consecutive chain rounds are niched closely into a compact circle - like a dartboard. However, if the chains are made slightly longer, with more of an arch on each chain, it gives the appearance of a flower - a Rose or wild rose as Sharon Briggs calls it (https://sharonstattedlace.blogspot.com/2008/05/tatting-wild-rose.html).


This is all I have. Have you encountered the term for another formation? Please do share.

My main references for the above, besides online resources already listed (including Craftree), are - Elgiva Nicholls' 'Tatting: Technique & History' 1984, and Judith Connors' 'An Illustrated Dictionary of Tatting'. And all three tatted samples above are from derivatives of Endrucks' (1920) patterns 42, 20, and 37.

UPDATE: (9th Oct 2023) - Perhaps I should've spoken about the origin of the word rosette, etc. But here's a comment by Stéphanie Mc (Tattimic) on my FB post and quoted here ---

I'm pretty sure it comes from French.
In French, the word "rosette" can take about 10 different meanings. It usually refers to something circular with a circle in the middle, but not necessarily.
Also, when the suffix "-ette" is added to a noun - let's say "rose", haha-, it refers to a smaller version of that noun. So a "rosette" is supposed to mean "a small rose", at least in some interpretation of the word, of course.

 Well, she is absolutely right! 

My sincerest thanks to all mentioned!

11 comments:

  1. Thank you! Very interesting, there is always something new to learn when visiting your blog. 🥰🌹 I didn't know (or I forgot?) the term rosace.

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    1. You are too kind, Nin. 💕 When will you start blogging again 😜

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  2. Thank you for the history lesson! It's interesting to learn about how things were called and made in the past. Things have changed a lot in tatting!
    Btw, my mom yesterday asked me for a few small tatted motifs calling them "rosonele" (this is the plural). I thought it was a funny word. I checked and it doesn't exist in the Romanian dictionary. I wonder where she got it from...

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    1. I've been working on the Dictionary for the book I am editing, hence terms and definitions are kind of on my mind right now 😁, including a lot of research.
      Lavi, your mom might have got the exact word wrong, but her concept was correct! Medallions and Rosettes were often used interchangeably in old terminology because they were tiny, ..... 💕

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  3. Confusing isn’t it. If you said rosette to me, I’d visualize your third example. A rose by any other name?

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    1. Jane, in this case the figure and form are quite different though function is essentially the same 🤣💕

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  4. Very informative and interesting! I always enjoy reading your posts, Muskaan.

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  5. Many terms for the same thing tell about the long and rich history of tatting. I appreciate your interesting research.

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    1. What a wonderful perspective, Marja! Thank you

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  6. For those following this post, I have an update from a fellow tatter! Please read what she has to say... 🌸🌸🌸

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