Venice, since 1870

Lace, a precious and coveted ornament from the sea

You cannot describe Jesurum without referring to the history of lace, just as you cannot talk about the history of lace without referring to Jesurum.
In the 16th century, Venetian lace was known and appreciated throughout Europe, thanks to astute Venetian merchants, ably assisted by famous artists who willingly provided designs and inspiration for this noble art.
Lace originated from the need for suitably trimmed and decorated household linen. According to a popular legend, a sailor returning from a long voyage brought a piece of strange seaweed, Halymedia opuntia, known by seafaring folk as "mermaids' lace", as a gift for his sweetheart. The sailor soon returned to sea and to console herself, the girl copied the beauty of the seaweed in her lace.
In Venice, lace had been used since ancient times in clerical vestments and it soon became appreciated as ornamentation for rich medieval and renaissance garments. When it was adopted for use on everyday articles, it rapidly gained popularity and commercial production began to satisfy the numerous orders reaching Venice from all parts of Italy and elsewhere.
According to official documents, the monarchs, aristocracy and churchmen of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries spent fabulous sums on fine lace to decorate fans, sheets and curtains, men's and women's garments and even shoes.
The lace industry reached its peak of excellence in Venice in the 18th century and was so greatly appreciated that not only working class women and nuns, but also aristocratic ladies devoted themselves to its production.

A century later, Morosina Morosini Grimani opened a school for "Lace and Other Curiosities" at Santa Fosca with 130 workers. The lace was made exclusively for her and she was fond of giving lace as a gift to churches and the most elegant ladies of the European courts.
When Morosina Morosini died, the lace making school closed, but the lace makers' skills were not lost. The art continued to flourish in homes, small workshops and convents. Several artists such as Cesare Vecellio drew numerous beautiful designs and many types of point were invented (knot point, square net point, Burano point and needle point).


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