Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne (Venice 1554), page 23 (verso) 1554

This is a page from a book titled “Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne,” printed in Venice in 1554. The patterns were designed by Matteo Pagano to inspire lacemakers. The design is printed with crisp lines, ideal for the translation to needle lace. Lace was highly valued in the 16th century as a luxury adornment, synonymous with elegance and refinement. Books like this one played a crucial role in the expansion of lacemaking as both a domestic skill and as a professional occupation. The patterns offered women an opportunity to exercise creativity, and to generate income. This book is an artifact of a world in which handmade goods held a central economic place. Appreciating this, we can look beyond the graphic impact of the page and see it as a key document in the history of both design and labor.