Hand & Lock

[anteros_lmc]

Ever fancied awarding yourself the Order of the Bath? Well you can buy your very own insignia, if not the actual order, for the bargain price of £487.50 (excluding VAT at 20%).

When I first read Amy Miller's Dressed to Kill, I was absolutely astonished by the sums naval officers spent on silver and gold lace, particularly when it had a tendency to tarnish at sea. There's no denying that it's devilishly handsome stuff though, so I was fascinated to discover Hand & Lock, a traditional embroidery company which was founded in 1767 and still specialises in bespoke, individually crafted embroidery for "a wide range of niche markets from Civilian and Military Regalia through to Ecclesiastical and Couture."

They have a predictably classy website which, among other things, covers the history of the company and provides some stunning examples of their work. They even have an online shop where you can buy all manner of wonderful things ranging from military and civilian insignia, epaulettes and shoulder chords, orders of chivalry to couture clutch bags. There's a whole page of Royal Navy lace and badges, along with historical militaria and collectibles. You can even buy a replica set of Nelson's orders for £200!

I wonder if they also sell naval knickers embroidered with flowers?! ;)

Comments

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

The mention of gold lace instantly brought wombats to mind.


‘Killick, Killick there: what’s amiss?’

‘Which it’s your scraper, sir, your number one scraper. The wombat’s got at it.’

‘Then take it away from him, for God’s sake.’

‘I duresn’t, sir,’ said Killick. ‘For fear of tearing the lace.’

‘Now, sir,’ cried the Captain, striding into the great cabin, a tall, imposing figure. ‘Now, sir,’ - addressing the wombat, one of the numerous body of marsupials brought into the ship by her surgeon, a natural philosopher - ‘give it up directly, d’ye hear me, there?’

The wombat stared him straight in the eye, drew a length of gold lace from its mouth, and then deliberately sucked it in again.

‘Pass the word for Dr Maturin,’ said the Captain, looking angrily at the wombat: and a moment later, ‘Come now, Stephen, this is coming it pretty high: your brute is eating my hat.’

‘So he is, too,’ said Dr Maturin. ‘But do not be so perturbed, Jack; it will do him no harm, at all. His digestive processes -‘

At this point the wombat dropped the hat, shuffled rapidly across the deck and swarmed up into Dr Maturin’s arms, peering at close range into his face with a look of deep affection.

The Fortune of War, Patrick O’Brian

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

I just had a look at the Hand and Lock site, and I expected gold lace to be more, well, lacy. LOL. Still, expensive stuff. I wonder which type it was on Jack's hat...

That's such a lovely scene, with several things going on that aren't quite spelled out: it's my impression that Killick is actually scared of the wombat and doesn't dare try to take the lace away from it. And then Stephen thinking (or affecting to think) that Jack is concerned not for the fate of his precious hat but for the wombat's health.

I can picture Jack addressing the wombat sternly with "Now, sir". And the wombat looking lovingly into Stephen's eyes. Makes me want to reread the entire series again!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

A fabulous website there.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, it's absolutely wonderful! Those details! O.O