Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 31 (recto) 1601

This is page 31 from Cesare Vecellio's "Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne," a book of patterns printed in Venice, sometime in the 16th century. During the Renaissance, Venice was a center of fashion and trade and Vecellio's pattern books provided designs for the elaborate clothing and accessories worn by upper-class women. This particular pattern shows a geometric design for lace, a luxury item that was both a marker of status and an expression of femininity. Lace-making was a skilled craft, often practiced by women in convents or aristocratic households. While seemingly decorative, these patterns reflect the complex social and economic structures of the time, highlighting the roles of women in both production and consumption. Vecellio's work offers a glimpse into the material culture of Renaissance Europe, where clothing and adornment were powerful signifiers of identity and social standing.