 In
recent months, in keeping with the aims of the Fondazione, ensure
the survival of traditional and specialised weaving techniques,
there has been experimentation in the use of ostrich and peacock feathers
in the weft in combination with a silk warp.
19th-century sources make frequent mention of weaving with feathers.
Even without precise information on the original technique the
experiment of substituting weft brocade silks with feathers produced
excellent results. The weaving is, of course, extremely slow
but the brocaded areas created in this way are particularly soft
and offer the possibility of the subtlest shading effects. The
cloth is both very light and easy to manage. The finished design
will be published in a future bulletin.
 The
collection of old textiles at the Fondazione (some 400 pieces)
is now being catalogued scientifically, according to the standards
of the CIETA, by students attending the courses on Cataloguing
of old Textiles. The project envisages the creation of a CD-rom
covering all the techniques revealed from a study of all the
textiles in the collection
The
course on the maintenance, storage and display of old textiles, held by Mary Westerman Bulgarella, has now finished.
The course (aimed specifically at museum staff) included visits
to exhibitions and museums in Florence and Prato with textiles
displays and to those where Mary Westerman Bulgarella assisted
in the arrangement..
Thessy Schoenholzer Nichols is offering a course on the identification
of hand-made laces one day a week
during May. Those interested should contact the Fondazione.
The second part of the course
on Cataloguing Textiles, specialising in figured textiles,
is now in progress. |
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ITALIA
- I Tessuti della Fede
(Liturgical vestments and cloth)
Decorative borders from the 15th and 16th centuries in the collection
of the Museo del Tessuto in Prato. PRATO
16 December 2000 - 31 July 2001
Tel. 0574 611503, fax 0574-444585, e-mail: museodeltessuto@ po-net.prato.it
- Seminario internazionale sul colore a Venezia
nternational seminar on colour in Venice
Colour history, conservation and techniques
Pigments and dyes in textiles (R.Fanelli, A.Morasutti, R. Cilano)
Ceramics and colour (F. Saccardi, S. Donaggio, L. Lazzarini)
Restoration of monuments (G. Brino, C. Memo)
Centro del Colore, San Marco 3950, 30124 Venezia
1-17 March 2001 (second session)
Tel. 041-5224006, fax 041-2775659, e-mail: albertofranchetti@tin.it
- Museo dell'artigianato tessile della seta, costume e moda
calabrese
(Museum of Calabrain silk-weaving, costume and fashion with
the Traditional Craft School)
Textiles, fashion and cafe life in Calabrian tradition.
Reggio Calabria
Rosetta Furfari Sorgonà, via de Ruggero 9, Reggio Calabria,
1. Tel. 0347-0948 648
- Artigianato e Palazzo: botteghe artigiane e loro committenze
(Craftsmen and the Palazzo: artisans and their patrons)
Fair with demonstrations, entertainments and refreshments.
The gardens of Palazzo Corsini sul Prato, Florence
16-20 May 2001
E-mail: neri.torrigiani@torrigiani.com
- Casa museo della storia, del costume e delle tradizioni
dell'alta Valle del Cervo
(Museum of the local history, tradition and costume of the
Alta Valle del Cervo)
Via Pietro Micca 7 Rosazza (BI), Italia, Tel. 015-21650
- Collezione Gandini, pizzi e ricami dal XVII al XIX secolo
Lace and embroidery from the 17th to the 19th century
Museo civico d'arte Modena, Largo Porta San Agostino 337, Modena,
Italy
Information from Dr Francesco Piccinini, Tel. 059-200109
museo.arte@comune.modena.it
- Proposte 2001. Tendaggio e tessuto di arredamento in anteprima
mondiale
Curtains and furnishing fabrics: new collection
Villa Erba - Cernobbio, Como
2-4 May 2001
E-mail: studiomichelangelo@sii.it.proposte.milano@tin.i
- Tess-E-mail di TESSIMILIA
Updating of the italian Web-site of handweaving, fiber arts
et similia
http://www.GeoCities.com/tessimilia
WORLD
- Arquitectura nòmada del Mediteraneo
(Tent culture in the Middle East)
Centre de Documentaciò Terrassa Spagna
until 27 May 2001
info@cdmt.es http://www.cdmt.es
- Ghanian Flags
Asafo flags reveal an oral tradition of wisdom and wit
Textile Museum Washington, DC, USA
May 25 - July 12, 2001
http://www.textilemuseum.org
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testo Italiano