Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 22 (recto) 1601

This is page 22 from Cesare Vecellio's book, "Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne," printed in Venice, sometime in the 16th century. The book is an instruction manual for lacemaking, rendered through woodcut prints on paper. These designs give us a glimpse into the meticulous processes involved in creating lace, a luxury commodity that demanded immense patience and skill. The designs have a striking graphic quality. Note the interplay of geometric and organic motifs, repeated to form intricate patterns. These patterns served as templates for artisans, predominantly women, who would painstakingly recreate them using needle and thread. The production of lace was deeply embedded in social and economic structures of the time. It provided a source of income for many women but also perpetuated a system where their labor was often undervalued. Vecellio's book therefore isn't just about design, it is a document of the labor economy. By focusing on its material origins, we recognize how this book bridges the worlds of art, craft, and commerce.