New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-05
VALVOGNIAN LACE.
Specimens of italian Work Sent to
st. Louis Exposition.

The italian Minister of Commerce. Industry and
Agriculture has just sent at the cost and FISK OF
the State. twenty-three specimens OF NaIvoshiaa
lace cut work, etc. to the ST. Louis ExpoSltloh-
This lace IS made at Vale Vogna by the peasant
women and the industry is one IN which the TWO
queens of Italy, Margherita and Elena, take a
great and active interest Queen MarsherlIA
bought a considerable part OF the first Valvosnian
crhibIt which was sent to the ''Women's Indus
tries" and not long ago she bought two tablecloths
and some doylies. ordering at the same time a
bedspread In cut work Queen Elena recently
bought some Nalvognian lace at the w omen
Arts and Crafts in Rome.
Much of the lace made at Vale Vogna is copied
from ancient models. Cut work comes from the
Arabs and most Of the ancient specimens handed
down TO tho present day were brought from sicily.
This is because four hundred years ago there were
in this island plenty of captive MoOrs. who were
set at work to beautify the homes OF their captors
Their work. if in good preservation brings thou
sands of francs to-day, and there is a great de-
mand for It. The reproductions also command
high price and TO make them is a work of time.
patience and skill. Queen Marghertta's curtains
will occupy clever fingers in the Vale Nogna for
some months to come. and the pair of curtains sent
10 the St Louis Exposition represent an equal
amount OF work.
lace" 1t is made by cutting in linen Q-rnn-
ing thus many different patterus) and sewing the
sides Of the spaces prevent their fraytrg. In
the cid work these edges seem TO have been sewn
Varied Lv an adrnixture OF drawn thread work
(punta tirata), and also by embroidery IN coarse
The design shown in Illustration No. proba-
bly, adaptation by European workers or Arab
lace for the representation OF lions. deer, horses.
men and women is contrary Mosem law. This
pattern also has been successfully copied IN the
FaIle Vosna-a brown flax thread defining the cut
edSes-v lille the work Is tringed as N the original;
with knotted thread. in which a few inches or
blue alternate with few inches OF brown
The creamy homeSpuu linen or the valley cloSeiy
resembles the ancient linen OF the model pieces. and
IS made by the lacemakers. who are also the
agTiCu!IuriSts of this high Alpine region.
They sow the hemp: tend It; gather it, stalk by
snin and weave il! So said one of the girls adding
50 much 10 do with it! And. at the last drawing
herself up proudly, I'VE trim il with our own pun
some OF the linen the VaIvognlans send TO be dyed
blue for the aprons OF their traditional costume
Otherwise their c9thlng Is mace ana dec9raIed en-
tirely at home. The weave 81 TINS nnen IL so close
that wayfarng contadine fold an apron corner into
a cup and drink from it az any mountain stream
There is no drip from THIS cup ana ths Iaorio
is as desirable as II is firm in texture. It IS al
most everlasting. and the lace that II Is trimmed
with. I'VE make for eternity, the women say.
Illustration No. = shows cut work and drawn
thread doyIies. No. shows u sampler OF
work and drawn thread. inClosed a border OF
p,;ncetto (AIpine point Lace and crossed by two
lines of puucetto The other square is ornamented
with small puncetto insertions. with narrow edg-
name for the lace. Near Bergamo, where the art
of this peculiar lace is dying out, the stitch
uatterns bearing Il strong resemblance TO minute
ivory carving. Elsewhere the lace has been known
Greek point and 'Saracens point lace,
All these old embTodeTtes and Iaces occupied the
great danes of byS gone days, when the general in
Security OF life and property kept the chatelaiae
and her TaidenS close prisoners IN lhelr strong cas-
ties Nowadays it Is the gentle shepherdesses Of
the Alps who, when they are, as they say them
selves 'besieged' By the long SHOWS OF winter,
take pleasure in this ancient art work. thereby
lieving the terrible poverty which existed among
them before the industry was started