The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-24
ITALIAN ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.
First Invented by Pious sisters-In a
Famous Factory-Handwor

Artificial flowers were first invented By
pious nuns. In the Italian converts the
affairs and shrines Of saints were. I'D 10
the end Il the Eighteenth century. decor.
ated with artificial flowers. laboriousiy
put together of paper parchment and
other stiff materials. Since then the
Italian flowers" which are made In
Venetian factories Of the imperfect Co
coons of silk worms. have become famous
for their dcintiness. which makes them
particularly suitable ior toilet decora.
tons Besides these silk flowers other
artificial flowers arc made In Venice
whence nearly all Italy Is supplied. and
whence whole wagon loads are exported
to other countries.
have been over one Of the Venetian
flower factories. for no sooner has the
visitor to Venice taken his early Gun Of
chocolate at FlorianS, near the Marcus
place. when the cicerone appears. Offering
TO show him the "fam0us" factory OF the
famous Italian flowers" This factory
is situated in one Of the gray old houses
Of the frezzaria, and several hundred
girls arc occupied in il. In the warehouse
the most wonderful reproductions Of
natural flowers are exhibited in CLAD
cases. and il seems In many cases as II
not only the richest and most brilliant
colors. but the very scent Of the flowers.
had been stolen from nature. for some OF
the artificial flowers are STEPPED IN tho
perfume distilled from the flower which
It represents. ANY one wishing to take
home some souvenir of Venice can have
his choice of beautiful and often fantastic
objects at the factory
In tho upper stories of the house the
girls sit az their work. constructing with
clever hands, the most beautiful works
Of art, for all the most expensive arti,
fetal flowers are nearly exclusively made
by hand, and their value depends solely
on the manual dexterity and taste of the
poorly clad and mostly delicate looking
girls, sitting at long tables. and inhaiing
the unhealthy dust of the dyed materials
No machinery could replace the dexterity
and taste Last century q Swiss invented
q machine for cutting ont tho leaves and
petals, but it can only be- used for the
smallest kinds, such as are wanted for
hyacinths. lilies Of tn valley. and other
small flowers. la larger petals the ir.
regularities of manual work are preferred
10 the stiff and correct forms produced by
machinery The material If which tho
petals are made is woven In special fac
tories: tho scissors a.d other tools used
by the grls, as well as the presses In
which tho veins are traced on the leaves,
are Of shape specially adapted 10 the
work
Each part of q flower IS made by special
lists In one room for instance only
STALKS Of flowers and leaves are made. In
another fruits and berries of all kinds are
cast. if they are of wax. or blown. ID OF
glass Tho clcyccest workers. are cm-
ployed in making blossoms oi the single
petals and bouquets wrcaths. and gar
lands of the single bio oms. 10 is very
interesting to watch this process and To
see how, FIRST. the center of dover is
constructed. thon the petals put round.
next the green leaves, and So forth tAl
O. flower or "a branch is compLete-Th
Gartcnlaube.