www.champanelle.net - Cercle Genealogic and Historical Champanellois (63) FRANCE

In a previous issue of this bulletin, we shared the story of how peasant women earned a few coins by selling lace they made on their pillows during the time left over from fieldwork or household chores.

These laces were sold to the nobility, not only in France but also in Italy, Spain, and even South America. The lace makers were scattered across villages, often far from lace-making hubs, the most significant of which in our region was Le Puy-en-Velay.

By the late 16th century, merchants had intermediaries between themselves and the lace makers. These intermediaries were known as leveuses. Once a week, fortnightly, or sometimes only once a month, the leveuses would make their rounds. They visited lace makers in several villages, carrying a carved basket on their arm. They distributed work according to each lace maker's skill level, provided patterns and thread, and offered advice and critiques. Some were quick to criticize, which often gave them an excuse to pay less for the lace.

The leveuses would then bring the lace they purchased to merchants in Le Puy, Langeac, Craponne, or Le Monastier. The merchants were typically the owners of the lace patterns. The leveuses earned a commission on the lace she collected. However, some abused their position by rejecting lace, demanding excessive commissions, or questioning the quality or whiteness of the lace.

In the early 18th century, a regulation was established by the Bishop of Saint-Flour, requiring leveuses to limit their fee to two sous per piece of lace (equivalent to 12 aunes), plus two sous for delivering it to Le Puy-far less than the ten sous they were accustomed to taking. They were also instructed to pay in cash rather than in goods, as they often did. The visit of the leveuses was a significant event in the village, but it could also be a source of jealousy and conflict among lace makers.