The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-09-28
ITALIAN ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.
First Invented by Pious slsters-In .
Famous Factory--Handwork.


Famous Observation-Disclosures.
Artificial flowers were first invented by
pious nuns. In the Italian converts the
altars 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 the
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 at Florian's, near the Marcus
place, when the cicerone appears, offering
to show him the famous" factory of the
famous Italian flowers" This factory
Is situated In one of the gray old houses
Of the Frezzaria, and several hundred
girls are occupied In 1t. In the warehouse
the most wonderful reproductions of
natural flowers are exhibited In glass
cases, and 1t 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 the
perfume distilled from the flower which
1t 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 the upper stories Of the house the
girls sit at their work, constructing, with
clever hands, the most beautiful works
of art, for all the most expensive arti-
ficial 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 inhaling
the unhealthy dust Of the dyed materials.
No machinery could replace the dexterity
and taste. Last century Swiss invented
machine for cutting out the leaves and
petals, but 1t can only be used for the
smallest kinds, such as are wanted for
hyacfnths, lilies Of the valley, and other
small flowers. In larger petals the ir-
regulartties Of manual work are preferred
to the stiff and correct forms produced by
machinery. The material Of which the
petals are made is woven In special fac
tories: the scissors and other tools used
by the girls, as well as the presses in
which the veins are traced on the leaves,
are of shape specially adapted to the
work.
Each part of 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, If of
glass. 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
interesting to watch this process and to
see how, first, the center of flower Is
constructed, then the petals put round,
next the green leaves, and so forth, TIL
flower or o branch is complete.-The
C4artau1auha