This pillow for making “bobbin” lace (also known as “pillow” or “bone” lace) was left by Mrs. Anna McCarthy (Williams) Howard when she died on July 18, 1822. A paper or vellum pattern is pinned to the pillow and the thread is wound on wooden or bone bobbins that would hang from the project. The pillow would be situated on a table or the lacemaker’s lap perpendicularly to the view shown, with the bobbins hanging close to her. The lace is made by twisting, braiding, or weaving from point to point on the pattern with pins set at each point to hold the lace in place while the lacemaker continued to work. Lacemaking was most popular in Belgium, England, Italy, Ireland, and Puerto Rico, among other countries.