MUSEO DEL MERLETTO
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A small museum worth a visit to learn more about the history of Murano lace.
This small museum is worth the detour to learn more about the history of Murano lace. An original and scholarly museography leads through the birth and development of this meticulous craft, to understand its place in the economy and in Venetian society through the centuries. The first embroidered motifs are directly inspired by the Byzantine mosaics of the 11th and 12th centuries. From the 15th century onwards, needlework developed on the island of Burano; motifs evolved towards more round and less geometric animal and floral shapes. Relayed in convents until the 18th century, the art of lacemaking was revived in 1872 by Countess Andriana Marcello who created a school of lacemakers in Burano, to which this museum is annexed. Nearly 200 examples of Venetian lace from the 16th and 17th centuries are exhibited here: tablecloths, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, placemats, with archives, drawings, photographs. Beautiful painted portraits also, dating from the 19th century, showing the female bourgeoisie of the time. You will be dazzled by the precision of the details of the exhibits. For example, let's mention this contemporary jewel created in 2008 by Maria Bissaco: a necklace of flowers made of embroidered pearls, in homage to a city in the Czech Republic. Just think of the time, and especially the patience, it took to make such pieces! Finally, for the young public in search of an educational workshop, lacemakers are sometimes present in the museum in the morning.
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