Pag lace () is a distinct form of
lace
Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is split into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...
work originating from
Pag, an island in
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
. Creating Pag lace involves using a needle, thread, and a firm round or square pillow as a backing.
Traditionally, lace-makers of Pag did their ''
teg'' (work) without any drawings. Each woman would inherit works from her mother and grandmothers, incorporating their techniques while adding a personal touch, resulting in unique and exceptional pieces. The creation of each lacework symbolizes the anonymous, modest, and self-sacrificing lives of the skilled artisans.
In 2009, Lacemaking in Croatia, represented by
Lepoglava
Lepoglava is a town in Varaždin County, northern Croatia, It is located 32 km southwest of Varaždin, 7 km west of Ivanec, and 22 km northeast of Krapina.
Demographics
A total of 8,283 residents in the municipality (2011 census) live in the fo ...
lace, Pag lace and
Hvar
Hvar (; Chakavian: ''Hvor'' or ''For''; ; ; ) is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, located off the Dalmatian coast, lying between the islands of Brač, Vis (island), Vis and Korčula. Approximately long,
with a high east–west ridge of M ...
lace, was inscribed in the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
's
.
History
Pag lace is notable for its unique origins, believed to trace back to
Mycenae
Mycenae ( ; ; or , ''Mykē̂nai'' or ''Mykḗnē'') is an archaeological site near Mykines, Greece, Mykines in Argolis, north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece. It is located about south-west of Athens; north of Argos, Peloponnese, Argos; and sou ...
, and has been preserved in the city of Pag since ancient times. The earliest documented records of Pag lace date back to the
15th century
The 15th century was the century which spans the Julian calendar dates from 1 January 1401 (represented by the Roman numerals MCDI) to 31 December 1500 (MD).
In Europe, the 15th century includes parts of the Late Middle Ages, the Early Re ...
, mentioning the involvement of the Benedictine nuns from the
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...
. Before, there were no stencils or blueprints for making,
the work being entirely empirical.
The way they were made and their pattern was passed from generation to generation, from mother to daughter by word of mouth and practical work. Benedictine Monastery of St. Margaritas is also responsible for spreading Pag lace, which they sold to
Venice
Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
or
Vienna
Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
.
The Benedictine sisters were the main initiators of lacemaking and the lace school in Pag. Today, the monastery has a collection of over a hundred exhibits that has been preserved and collected for over 150 years.
For the first time that Pag lace was officially presented at the exhibition in 1880. In the period from 1906 to 1943, Pag lace was shown at numerous exhibitions around the world, in London, New York, Budapest, Belgrade, Vienna, Milan, Prague. At the World's Fair in Paris in 1937, it received a gold plaque as an extremely valuable handiwork. Empress Maria Theresa kept a Pag lacemaker at the Viennese court, who sewed lace for the needs of the court.
See also
*
Lacemaking in Croatia
Lacemaking in Croatia () is a tradition dating back to the Renaissance when lacemaking began spreading throughout the Mediterranean and continental Europe. Throughout the years, Croatian lace has become notable for its unique patterns and designs ...
References
External links
"Pag lace, the lace of emperors" on ''croatianhistory.net''
Needle lace
Textile arts of Croatia
Pag (island)
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