Lace - Venice: A Travel Guide to Murano Glass, Carnival Masks, Gondolas, Lace, Paper and More - page 43

Needle lace tends to be crisper and stiffer than bobbin lace, which is more flexible be-
cause it is woven by swiftly moving threads that are wound around bobbins. Most tradi-
tional Venetian lace patterns rely on geometric forms such as circles, stars, rosettes, and
triangles. Animals, flowers, scrolls, and other naturalistic elements may play a part in fan-
cier designs.
Sixteenth-century designs
Laces from this period are usually based on a grid of regularly spaced, repeating decorative
elements such as rosettes. Many of the pieces that survive from this era have been preserved
in church treasuries.
Seventeenth-century designs
By the early seventeenth century, lacemakers began to abandon the grid format in favor
of more freeform designs. Some of the Venetian designs of this period are a breathtaking
maze of ornamentation. The lace of this period is notable for its highly defined scrolls
and tendrils, which you will see not only in the lace itself but also replicated in paint in
seventeenth-century portraits.
Eighteenth-century designs
Fashions evolved to favor solid, dark-colored clothing for both men and women, so lace
had a chance to take center stage with ostentatious collars and cuffs, some woven with gold
or silver threads. The most popular type of Venetian lace at this time was gros point de
Venise , a complicated stitch that is based on floral elements and raised work.
How to Buy Venetian Lace
The peaceful island of Burano is the undisputed capital of Italian lace history. A 45-minute
boat ride from the Piazza San Marco, Burano is worth the trip to see lacemakers work their
magic. Today, Burano is known for its quiet alleys, its brightly painted houses, its pictur-
esque fishing boats, and its lace shops selling everything from doilies, tablecloths, babies'
baptismal gowns, jewelry, and many other knickknacks.
You should understand that purely handmade lace is extremely rare today. Much of the
lace on Burano is made using the hybrid technique described above, relying on machine-
sewn designs with hand finishing. The island's shops also sell many pieces that are exclus-
ively machine-made. Beware: some of these are not made on Burano at all.
Lacemaking machines weave cotton thread many times faster than the human hand.