Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 21 (recto) 1588

This is Plate 21 from Federico de Vinciolo’s “Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts,” a lace-making pattern book, published in Paris in the late 16th century. Lace was more than a mere adornment; it was a marker of status and wealth. Sumptuary laws often dictated who could wear it, making lace a visible signifier of social identity. De Vinciolo, originally from Venice, became a "brodeur ordinaire" to King Henri II, which gave him access to elite circles. This plate demonstrates the geometric and floral patterns popular in lace design at the time. Look closely, and you'll see motifs like birds and stylized flowers, reflective of the natural world. This was a period where fashion and art were intertwined. These pattern books democratized design, allowing skilled artisans, often women, to produce intricate textiles. Lace making was a widespread source of income for women, but their names are often lost to history. This book preserves their emotional labor and creativity in crafting beautiful and complex works.