Le Pompe: Opera Nova 1557

This is "Le Pompe: Opera Nova," an early example of a lace pattern book by Giovanni Battista and Marchio Sessa. It was printed in Venice, Italy, during a time when Venice was a hub for the production of luxury goods. These books were instrumental in the rise of lace making, a craft often practiced by women in convents and aristocratic households. Lace making was a source of income and a means of expressing creativity. The intricate patterns reflect the period's aesthetic values, where ornamentation signified status and refinement. “Le Pompe” isn’t just a collection of patterns; it’s a document that reflects the gendered division of labor and the economic activities of women in the early modern period. These books allowed women to participate in the economy, and also subtly documents their artistic skills. In a world that often constrained women's roles, lace making became a way to assert identity.