Caterina Angiola Pieroncini was a 17th-century Italian lace-maker, embroiderer and

lady-in-waiting A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...

for the Grand Duchess

Vittoria della Rovere Vittoria della Rovere (7 February 1622 – 5 March 1694) was Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the wife of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. She had four children with her husband, two of whom would survive infancy: the future Cosimo III, Tuscany's longes ...

Career

As a lady-in-waiting to the Grand Duchess

(1622–1694) who was known for supporting her ladies in waiting, Pieroncini was sent to Paris in 1664 to study needlework in order to make the latest designs, after which she returned to Florence. While in Paris, Maria of Lorraine, the duchess of Switzerland, was her guardian. Pieroncini studied under the direction of Mademoiselle Alée in Paris for eighteen months, during which she was paid 200 lire every two trimesters plus other costs of living. As a lace-maker, Pieroncini worked during a time when Venetian ''gros point'' needle lace was in vogue and was considered the highest quality lace. By the mid-century, French styles of

bobbin lace Bobbin lace is a lace textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of yarn, thread, which are wound on #Bobbins, bobbins to manage them. As the work progresses, the weaving is held in place with pins set in a lace pillow, the placement of the pi ...

and ''point de France'' needle lace became more popular.

Retirement

Following her service to the Grand Duchess, Pieroncini entered the convent on 17 July 1677 and took the same Suor Maria Vittoria during which time she continued to receive support from the Duchess, who lived at the same convent as a child.

Career

Retirement

References

Further reading