The Kájel Lace Collection dates from 1908 to the present time. It has been assembled by the Kájel family to honor our parents, Rev. Andreas Kájel and Mrs. Kájel (nee Sophia Koroknai). The Lace house opened July 14, 1996. Lace pieces designed by Mrs. Andreas Kájel and made by the women of the village are included in this exhibition.

This lace exhibit is housed in a 150-year-old village house. It has been restored to ensure the oroginal style. We trust you will enjoy the surroundings and appreciate the achievements of our parents in establishing and advancing bobbin lace making in the village.

Rev. Kájel was invited to be pastor of the Presbyterian church in 1908. He was aware of the economic struggle of the people in Somogy county Balatonendréd was one of the poor villages.

To ease their hardship he felt the people should have an opportunity to learn some skills and earn money. The men of the village did agricultural work in the summer and cut down trees in the winter. Rev. Kájel organized bobbin lace making courses for the women.

Fifty women signed up for the first course. Elizabeth Schwarz was their teacher. Rev. Kájel bought the necessary items - bobbins by the thousand, twenty-six spinners, thread, pins, suitable paper on which to indicate patterns. He persuaded the village carpenter to build six to eight tables with accompanying benches. In addition, he offered his home - the parish house - as the course location.

Cushions, approximately twenty-four inches in circumference and eighteen to twenty-four inches in length, were placed on the tables. The women made the cushions and their two covers. The first cover was filled with the hull of wheat; the second was designed for removal washing before each new pattern was begun.

Miss Schwarz taught basic technique. Soon the women were capable of making yard lace. There was a time when twelve kilograms of lace for sale was stored at the parish house.

Yard lace was made of varying widths for patterns requiring fine to thick thread. A proper household in the period preceding the First World War used hand made lace for the trimming of tablecloths, small tea table covers, bed sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers, towels, women's undergarments and handkerchiefs. Lace tablecloths and curtains were common. Every girl's dowry included linens decorated with lace.

World War I forced women of the villages back to the field work. However, between 1916 and 1920 the Hungarian emblem of the Holy Crown of Saint Stephen was made. Miss Vilma Stockel was engaged to teach and review bobbin lace making following the war.

Hungary was divided amongst its neighbors by the Peace Treaty of Trianon. Many Hungarians saw no future to a life under different governments considered hostile. Teachers moving to Hungary could not find employment under the existing educational system.In order to survive, some came to the village to learn bobbin lace making. They moved on and eventually about thirty-five to forty villages established lace making courses.

The teacher was responsible for distribution of patterns and thread. She also supervised the quality of the lace. Lace makers were paid and the finished product was mailed to Kájel Csipke telep Balatonenréd. From here oders were sent to merchants and individuals.

The Kájel Family