Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne, page 29 (recto) 1600

This is a page from “Pretiosa Gemma delle virtuose donne,” a book of lace patterns created by Isabella Catanea Parasole in the late 16th or early 17th century. Here, the geometric patterns and floral motifs, typical of reticella lace, transcend mere decoration. The designs tap into a deeper vein of cultural memory. Notice the recurring flower with four petals, each adorned with intricate detailing. We can see how it mirrors the ancient cross, a symbol that has migrated through millennia, across continents and cultures. In earlier eras, the cross embodied cosmic order, a link between celestial and terrestrial realms. With time, it acquired religious significance, representing sacrifice and redemption. Yet, here, in Parasole’s hands, it resurfaces in a new guise, adapted and transformed into an element of domestic craft. The symbolic weight of the cross shifts again, becoming a testament to human ingenuity, and the quiet power of women’s work. Parasole engages us on a subconscious level through patterns that resonate with our shared past.