Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 38 (recto) 1588

This is a page from "Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts...", made around 1595 by Federico de Vinciolo. The delicate designs are rendered in white ink against a dark ground and depict various patterns for needle lace. The contrast is striking. It evokes the fine detail of the lace itself. The composition is structured into distinct registers. The upper portion features two arched designs enclosing fantastical beasts. The lower register presents a linear pattern of geometric and floral motifs. Each section showcases a different aspect of lace design, from the figurative to the abstract. Vinciolo uses a semiotic system, where patterns and motifs function as signs. These designs not only served a functional purpose, but also were signifiers of status and taste. The very act of creating and disseminating these patterns challenges the traditional boundaries between art and craft. These lace patterns invite us to reconsider how meaning is woven into the very fabric of our cultural artifacts.