Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-10-19
ITALIAN ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.



First Invented by Pious Sisters-In q
Famous Observation-Disclosures.
Artificial flowers were first invented by
pious nuns. In tho Italian converts the
affairs and shrines of saints were, up to
the end of the Eighteenth century, decor
ated with artificial flowers, laboriously
put together of paper parchment and
other stiff materials. Since then tho
italian flowers" which are made In
Venetian factories of the imperfect CO.
coons of silk worms, have become famous
for their daintiness, which makes them
particularly suitable for toilet decora-
tions Besides these silk flowers other
artificial flowers are 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 tho
visitor to Venice taken his early cup of
chocolate ut Florian's, near tho Marcus
place, when the cicerone appears, offering
to show him tho famous" factory of the
famous italian flowers" This factory
Is situated in ono of tho gray old houses
of tho Frezzaria, and several hundred
girls arc occupied In 1t. In tho warehouse
sAAO ilNob VI OF
natural flowers nfe exhibited In glass
cases, and 1t seems In many cases us II
not only the richest and most brilliant
colors, but the very scent of tho flowers,
had been stolen from nature, for some of
the artificial flowers are stepped In tho
perfume distilled from the flower which
1t represents. Any ono wishing to take
homo some souvenir OF Venice can havo
his choice Of beautiful and often fantastic
objects at the factory.
In tho upper stories of tho house the
girls sit at their work, constructing, with
clever hands, tho most beautiful works
of art, for all the most expensive arti-
fetal flowers are nearly exclusively mado
by hand. and their value depends solely
on tho manual dexterity and taste of tho
poorly clad and mostly delicatv looking
girls, sitting at long tables, and inhaling
tho unhealthy dust of the dyed materials.
No machinery could replace the dexterity
and taste. Last century Swiss invented
n machine for cutting out the leaves and
petals, but 1t can only DO used for tho
smallest kinds, such as are wanted for
hyaclnths lilies Of tho valley and other
small flowers. In larger petals tho ir-
Irregularities of manual work arc preferred
to tho still and correct forms produced by
machinery. Tho material of which tho
petals are made is woven in special fac
tories: tho scissors and other tools used
by the girls, as well us tho presses In
which the veins arc traced on the leaves,
are of shape specially adapted to tho
work.
Each part of flower Is made by special
lists. In one room, for instance, only
stalks Of flowers and leaves arc mado: In
another fruits and berries Of all kinds are
cast, If they aro of wax, or blown. If of
lass. The cleverest workers are en-
ployed in making blossoms of the single
petals, and bouquets, wreaths, and gar
lands of the single blossoms. 1t Is very
TO watch this process and TO !
SEQ how, first, tho center of flower is |
then tho petals put round, |
next the green leaves, and so forth, till |
q flower or branch Is complete.