Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 10 (recto) 1588

This is page 10 from 'Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts…,' a book of lace patterns created by Federico de Vinciolo around the turn of the 17th century. Vinciolo's designs, printed using woodcut techniques, weren't just pretty pictures. They served a crucial social function, codifying and disseminating the latest trends in lace making throughout Europe. Lace was more than just decoration, it was a status symbol, and these pattern books helped to democratize access to high-end designs, allowing a wider range of artisans to participate in its production. Made in France, these patterns reflect the country's growing dominance in luxury goods. France was keen to create academies of art, craft guilds, and royal patronage to control this emerging market. By studying such works, we gain insight into the social and economic forces driving artistic production during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and can trace the movement of ideas and technologies across borders.