After not making bobbin lace for over 15 years [due to osteo-arthritis] and 4 house moves later, I've started sorting through my 500+ lace
bobbins that I collected over the years from various places both home and overseas with a view to giving other lacemakers the chance to
enjoy them.
This type of bobbin with a bead spangle attached to the tail was unique to the lacemakers of the English East Midlands lacemaking areas (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire etc) and is the preferred style of many present day lacemakers.
They are/were made from wood with a fine grain such as fruitwoods (apple, plum or cherry), rosewood and more recently from exotic hardwoods, or from bone. Nearly all modern bone bobbins are beef (cow) bone but antique bobbins may be ham (pig) bone.
http://www.ebid.net/uk/stores/Annies...-Bobbins-Beads