L’Aquila bobbin lace is one of Abruzzo’s oldest and most refined textile arts: a bobbin lace technique worked on a stuffed pillow, where a pattern drawn onto card gradually takes shape through the intertwining of continuous linen or silk threads. Originating and spreading among lace-makers in mountain villages from the fifteenth century onwards, this craft gradually became a symbol of identity and territorial belonging, shaped by differences in methods and styles and closely linked to bridal trousseaux, festive garments and the female economies of families across the L’Aquila area. Today, lace-making has undergone numerous creative reinterpretations and experiments and has found application in haute couture, interior decoration and jewellery.
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This workshop is dedicated to L’Aquila bobbin lace and offers participants an introduction to an art that combines technique, patience and creativity. Master lace-maker Daulia will guide participants through the discovery of the tools of the craft (tombolo pillow, beechwood bobbins, awl, pattern card, pins, crochet hook and small scissors) and the principles of lace-making, interweaving practical demonstrations with stories of life that have shaped the history of the territory. Between pinning and crossing bobbins, participants will learn to recognise the distinctive characteristics of L’Aquila lace and will experiment with creating a pattern designed by themselves. The workshop thus becomes an opportunity to experience first-hand a form of craftsmanship rooted in the strength contained within the simple gestures of the hands.
Programma
- Arrival at the Montereale Senior Citizens’ Social Centre, welcome and brief historical introduction to L’Aquila bobbin lace and its main centres of transmission
- Presentation of the tools
- Practical demonstration of winding the bobbins, setting up the work and creating the basic stitches of continuous-thread lace
- Individual practice by participants on a motif designed by themselves, with individual guidance and corrections by the master lace-maker
- Closing session with finishing of the small piece produced and a moment of discussion about the experience
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Daulia Pannunzio
My name is Daulia Pannunzio and I was “born and raised within the walls” of the city of L’Aquila in April 1977. The first time I used a needle I was four years old: my grandmother first taught me embroidery and then writing. Once I was tall enough to sit in front of the sewing machine, I began making clothes for my dolls. As a teenager, I continued cultivating an interest in women’s crafts until one day I was struck by the prillare — the sound produced by the movement of the bobbins — and from that moment I began studying lace-making with the teachers of L’Aquila’s lace schools. I am constantly exploring ideas that go beyond traditional works, designing and creating jewellery, clothing, classic but above all contemporary decorative objects incorporating L’Aquila lace (photo frames, lamps, decorative clocks and more). I study the continuous evolution of lace and my goal is to preserve, protect and promote the art of L’Aquila lace. In the summer of 2006, I decided to transform my hobby into my profession and turned my home in Santo Stefano di Sessanio (L’Aquila) into a workshop. I made available a lace pillow with a practice pattern so that all visitors who wish may try bobbin lace themselves and realise that it is much easier than people often imagine. You can find me in Piazza Medicea, in the historic centre of one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages. My artistic creations are entirely handmade using linen or silk threads, according to L’Aquila tradition. Jewellery pieces such as bracelets, earrings and pendants made with gold- or silver-coloured metal thread are my pride and joy; every piece is unique because I never reuse a pattern when creating a pendant. Furthermore, because each work is executed entirely by hand, minor and unavoidable imperfections such as knots may occur and are part of their authenticity.