Libro quarto. De rechami per elquale se impara in diuersi modi lordine e il modo de recamare...Opera noua, page 11 (recto) 1532

This is page 11 from Alessandro Paganino’s "Libro quarto", printed in Venice in the early 16th century. We see bands of interlaced patterns, typical of embroidery designs. The twisting, knot-like structures carry echoes of ancient symbols of eternity and interconnectedness. The interlace motif transcends cultures. From Celtic stone carvings to Viking metalwork, and even earlier in Roman mosaics, we find similar expressions. Consider the ‘endless knot’ in Tibetan Buddhism, a symbol of the infinite cycle of existence. Here, in Paganino’s book, it's translated into a pattern for needlework. The shift from sacred symbol to domestic craft highlights how cultural memory adapts. This visual language taps into our collective unconscious, evoking a sense of continuity across time. Such design may be seen as mere decoration, yet its enduring presence reveals a deeper, primal connection to our past.