The Lace of Isola Maggiore
In the early years of the twentieth century, Marchesa Elena Guglielmi introduced the technique of Irish point lacework to Isola Maggiore in Lake Trasimeno. This technique drew inspiration from methods developed in Irish monasteries in the late 19th century, aiming to emulate the ancient Venetian lace.
The uniqueness of this type of lace lies in its method of creation: instead of using needles and bobbins, it is crocheted with the use of an extremely fine thread. Elena took the initiative to bring a teacher from Turin to instruct the first island teacher, Elvira Tosetti. Subsequently, Elvira was entrusted with the responsibility of founding and managing a lace school, open to the young inhabitants of the island.
The Development of Isola Maggiore's Lace
The Guglielmi Castle was a meeting place for noblewomen from Perugia, Rome, Florence, and even members of the royal family, who became the first admirers and customers of the lace school. The refined lacework was exhibited in Perugia during the permanent market show of Italian Decorative Arts. Sample collections were sent to Rome at the Italian Women's Industries, from where they were distributed throughout Italy and abroad. During that time, fashion dictated that the most elegant dresses be adorned with lace and trims from Isola Maggiore, which were highly appreciated and sought after.
In times of fishing crises, women became the main source of income for the island, positively influencing the economy through lacework. Sales also occurred through word of mouth. An interesting example is the letter that Vittoria Conestabile della Staffa wrote to her friend Elena Guglielmi. In the 1930s, the fashion for Irish lace lost popularity, leading to the closure of the school.
However, women had acquired valuable skills, and despite the lack of demand in the market, they continued to practice lacework for personal use, such as making their own trousseaus. The activity resumed in 1963 thanks to the initiative of Maria Vittoria Semolesti, an island resident, who founded a lace-making cooperative to produce and sell Irish lace. The cooperative closed in 1975, but the lace-makers continued to work individually. Via Guglielmi with its lace-makers became an attraction on the island, attracting tourists who stopped to admire the magical process of turning thread into lace. Even today, you can still encounter some lace-makers working outside their homes, proudly displaying their creations for sale.
The Lace Museum
The Palazzo delle Opere Pie, dating back to the 16th century and previously used as the headquarters of the Confraternity of Santa Maria dei Disciplinati, is now the home of the Lace Museum. This museum carefully preserves artifacts created with the Irish point lace technique by the women of Isola Maggiore, spanning from the year 1904 until the end of the 20th century.