Esemplario di Lauori..., page 4 (verso) 1532

This is page four from Giovanni Andrea Vavassore’s “Esemplario di Lauori…”, a sixteenth-century embroidery pattern book. Printed patterns like these democratized design, allowing artisans and home embroiderers access to fashionable motifs and techniques. The designs reflect a mix of cultural influences, blending traditional geometric patterns with classical and mythological imagery. Note the griffin, a symbol often associated with power and vigilance, alongside more domestic floral motifs. These books were instrumental in shaping the visual culture and aesthetic sensibilities of the time. Embroidery was a significant aspect of women’s lives, offering a creative outlet and a means of self-expression within the domestic sphere. In a time when their access to education and public life was limited, needlework provided women with a medium through which they could communicate, create, and leave a lasting mark. Although these pattern books were a commercial product, they offered women an opportunity to participate in a broader artistic and cultural dialogue. They evoke a sense of the tactile and personal histories embedded in the craft.