Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 7 (recto) 1591

This delicate book page, printed by Matteo Florimi in Siena around 1600, is a woodcut. It shows a pattern for lace. The black lines were left standing in the block, while the white areas were carved away with small knives and gouges. Consider the skill required to produce such a design. The tools used were basic, but the technique demanded patience and a sensitivity to the grain of the wood. This was slow, highly specialized work. The image is graphically simple, yet the pattern is dense and intricate. Note the repeating geometric elements, all carefully placed and balanced. These images, and the lace they inspired, would have been consumed by wealthy patrons. But of course, the lacemakers themselves came from all walks of life. Lace was a cottage industry, and a valuable source of income for women. This beautiful design gives us insight into the economics of labor and consumption in Renaissance Europe, where the status of both makers and users was woven into the very fabric of society.