Burano Needle Lace on Exhibition in Vicenza

In May 2009 Signora Maria Vittoria Coen Del Vecchio donated the Burano needle lace border of an altar cloth made ​​in the early 1930s to the Diocesan Museum of Vicenza. 

Destined for the main altar of the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari, this extraordinary work was done by lacemakers who made 16 scenes which depict the most popular moments of the life and miracles of St. Nicholas with the scene depicting the elevation of the saint in the centre. 

Image captured from video footage owned by Telechiara Produzioni.

Image captured from video footage owned by Telechiara Produzioni.

The lace measures 13 feet long by 1.5 feet high and can be viewed right now along with the original designs until April 1, 2012 at the Diocesan Museum of Vicenza as part of the San Nicola, Tiziano, il Merletto exhibit.

Image captured from video footage owned by Telechiara Produzioni.

There are a couple of videos on YouTube to watch, the first one talks about the lace at the 5:30 minute mark, and the second one gives closer views of some of the details.

Image captured from video footage owned by Telechiara Produzioni.

In February there will be a series of lectures at the museum, the one I would love to attend is entitled Il merletto di San Nicola [the lace of St. Nicholas] given by lace expert Doretta Davanzo Poli on Sunday, February 12th at 5pm.

There must be a show catalogue but I cannot find where to get it from outside of the museum itself. I believe there must be one as there is a listing on the Ca' Foscari University website of an article written by Doretta Davanzo Poli entitled Manifattura Veneziana, in San Nicola/Tiziano/Il merletto a cura di F. Gasparini, M. Guderzo, L. Trevisan, Treviso, Antiga Edizioni, 2011, pp.78-83. 

If you get there, I'd love to hear all about it!