Milanese bobbin lace

Lacemaking was an important economic activity in Northern Italy, besides touching on social status matters as well as being a culturally significant art form.

[2] Typical characteristics of Milanese bobbin lace are scrolls made with curving clothwork tapes and floral motifs, and sometimes also consisting of human or animal figures.

[4] Novel ornamental features such as small beads affixed for eyes are sometimes found, as well as folded tallies and wheatears that add dimension to figures or edges.

[7] Additionally, larger flounces might relay Biblical tales such as the example of the Old Testament story of Joseph, with many human, animal, and even astronomical motifs.

[14] Milanese lace continues to be made today with nods to historical tapes and other motifs but with new artistic formats such as the work of Louise Colgan[15] and colorways reminiscent of watercolors by Sandi Woods.