Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 96 (recto) 1601

This page, number 96, from Cesare Vecellio’s “Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne,” was printed sometime in the 16th century. The book, whose title translates to “Crown of Noble and Virtuous Women,” is essentially a pattern book. The design has been created using a relief printing process, probably woodcut, where the areas intended to print black are left raised, while the rest is cut away. Each impression required considerable labor, even before the actual printing. The printed result shows an array of intricate geometric designs, perhaps intended for lace making. It speaks to the early modern economy of female labor. These designs would have been used by women, both amateur and professional, to produce luxury textiles. The book offered a ready-made vocabulary of forms, implicitly celebrating both female ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Thinking about this page, we realize that craft isn't just about skill. It’s also about design, labor, and the circulation of ideas.