Type of lace: Freehand Alpine lace. Thread: linen mostly. A cotton gimp was used too.

Location: Just on the other side ofthe border from Queyras,France in the province of Cuneo on the” communi di Sampeyre, Casteldelfino, Bellino, Pontechianale, Acceglio” (in Valle Maira). Both areas share the same type of culture as they used to be one.

The lace:
 

Modern replica of a cap from Valle Varaita,          by Nelly Comino

The lace came from Queyras, in the 17th century with the Protestants. The Italian peasants, who were very poor, made this lace to adorn their caps, collars and cuffs and the men’s jabots. They were inspired by the art of Flanders lace the Huguenots had brought with them: that is why one of the common designs is the flower-pot, also called Pottenkant. For a bride’s cap it was a tradition to make a vase with a lily and grapes. The lace varies from 8cm to 12cm, and is made with 96 up to 200 bobbins. Some narrower strips can be found, sewn together. The activity lasted until the 1825s, and then nearly died out by the end of the 19th century. That was mostly due to the fact women stopped wearing the traditional costume. There was an attempt of revival in Bellino, where a school was open and production encouraged in the 1920s.That saved the art from oblivion. The stitches: cloth stitch, Point de Paris ground and rose ground.

Wonderfully carved Ends on Nelly Camina's Tombolo pillows

 

Articles to be read for further information:

- Dentelles des coiffes des Alpes, by Nelly Favro-Comino, with Nicole Ovaere, in La Dentelle, n° 65 Avril 1996, pp.6-10.
- Il catalogo della Scuola dei Pizzi al Tombolo di Blins, by J.P.Bousquier and A. De Angelis, in Novel Temp n°30, Aprile 1987.
-La décoration des tambours italiens de la Val Varaita (Piémont), by Pierre Prost, in La Dentelle n° 80 1/2000, pp. 4-6.

For other articles, refer to the Queyras page.
 
 

Sources: Nelly Favro- Comino
Written by Josette Martin-Favelier, 2002.