Posted 3 years ago
SandyShores
(52 items)
This lace item has Staff of Life on it. What does this mean? Is this crochet or tatting? Does anyone know anything about this?
Staff of Life | ||
| Crochet4 of 4 |  |  |
Staff of Life | ||
| Crochet4 of 4 | | |
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Posted 3 years ago
SandyShores
(52 items)
This lace item has Staff of Life on it. What does this mean? Is this crochet or tatting? Does anyone know anything about this?
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I think it is crochet and maybe held a bread basket : bread being the staff of life
Hi, SandyShores. :-)
CW user vetraio50 is quite correct.
This piece of needlework is crocheted. The main body of it was done using a technique called "filet crochet":
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/learn-the-basics-of-filet-crochet-4062606
Which can be used to make very simple things like the instruction example at Sprucecraft, or as they said, things that are absolutely stunning, e.g.:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/534064055/peacock-and-trellis-filet-crochet
That "staff of life" motif was popular:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/staff-of-life-bread-doily-7544
And yes, "staff of life" is a very old term typically meaning bread, because it is (or used to be) a diet staple:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staff%20of%20life
As to a staff:
*snip*
Typically, the difference between a hiking stick and a hiking staff is size and balance. While they are both designed for active use (unlike canes, which are specifically for weak or injured legs), a stick is about 40 to 48 inches, depending on the user’s size.
The hiking staff on the other hand, can be five to seven feet tall. It was originally a necessity used by people who hiked or walked a lot outdoors. It was a source of protection on the road against thieves as well as a firm way to keep animals in line.
*snip*
https://walkingsticksandcane.com/collections/hiking-sticks-and-staffs
Thank you both for the information. I actually thought it might have something to do with Catholic religion-the bread or host as the staff of life. In any case, I had it framed in my kitchen for years and always wondered about it as it was passed down from great grandparents. Thank you for clarifying the type of needlework this is.