DOI Heft:
No.252 (April 1914)
DOI Artikel:Ricci, Elisa: The revival of needlework in Italy
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21209#0210
Revival of Needlework in Italy
to distinguish it from other
purely commercial articles.
It was due to the efforts
of a very intelligent and
wonderfully energetic
American lady, the Coun-
tess Cora di Brazza, that
an institution was formed
which would give unity
and stability to this new
feminine enterprise; her
infectious enthusiasm and
strong personality suc-
ceeded in sweeping away
every obstacle and a co-
operative society was
formed in Rome under the
title of "Industrie Fem-
minili Italiane." A lawyer
cushion made in the maraini workshops, rieti, umbria drew up the necessary
articles of association, the
perfumed with lavender, were called. Times have capital was raised, and a large shop was opened in
changed and only a very few peasants, who until the heart of Rome. Besides the administrative
now have not felt the stimulus of increasing want committee, a committee of twenty-four patronesses
or newer aspirations, still work, as in old times, for was formed, whose duties were to watch over the
themselves, the home, and the Church. artistic progress of the scheme. A board of experts
The worker of to-day usually wishes to enjoy the was nominated to decide upon the work to be
fruit of his own labour and to this end the finished accepted and to fix prices. The society was able to .
work is converted into
money at the earliest op-
portunity. The new
economic institutions
helped to foster the re-
vival of these ancient arts
by collecting the output
of the small and scattered
districts and the larger
and more fortunate ones,
gathering them together
and sorting out the various
objects—so different in
origin, aspect and value
—and selling them. But
this was not all; in some
cases it was necessary to
encourage production, in
others to restrain it, and
above all it was essential
that the work should re-
tain a certain local
character and possess
sufficient artistic merit to
render it acceptable to
people of good taste and crochet work executed in the beccadelli workshops, bologna
204
to distinguish it from other
purely commercial articles.
It was due to the efforts
of a very intelligent and
wonderfully energetic
American lady, the Coun-
tess Cora di Brazza, that
an institution was formed
which would give unity
and stability to this new
feminine enterprise; her
infectious enthusiasm and
strong personality suc-
ceeded in sweeping away
every obstacle and a co-
operative society was
formed in Rome under the
title of "Industrie Fem-
minili Italiane." A lawyer
cushion made in the maraini workshops, rieti, umbria drew up the necessary
articles of association, the
perfumed with lavender, were called. Times have capital was raised, and a large shop was opened in
changed and only a very few peasants, who until the heart of Rome. Besides the administrative
now have not felt the stimulus of increasing want committee, a committee of twenty-four patronesses
or newer aspirations, still work, as in old times, for was formed, whose duties were to watch over the
themselves, the home, and the Church. artistic progress of the scheme. A board of experts
The worker of to-day usually wishes to enjoy the was nominated to decide upon the work to be
fruit of his own labour and to this end the finished accepted and to fix prices. The society was able to .
work is converted into
money at the earliest op-
portunity. The new
economic institutions
helped to foster the re-
vival of these ancient arts
by collecting the output
of the small and scattered
districts and the larger
and more fortunate ones,
gathering them together
and sorting out the various
objects—so different in
origin, aspect and value
—and selling them. But
this was not all; in some
cases it was necessary to
encourage production, in
others to restrain it, and
above all it was essential
that the work should re-
tain a certain local
character and possess
sufficient artistic merit to
render it acceptable to
people of good taste and crochet work executed in the beccadelli workshops, bologna
204