The Venetian Origins of Sequins
Posted: May 15, 2013 Filed under: Art History, Coins, Italy, Venice | Tags: artisans, coins, ducat, Italy, numismatics, sequins, Venice, zecchino Leave a comment »
The Venetian Republic began minting a particular type of gold coin called a ducat in the thirteenth century. Venetian ducats were highly valued and actively exchanged in a widespread area across the Mediterranean.
The ducat soon came to be referred to as a zecchino after the name of the Venetian mint, the zecca. Venetian zecchini changed with each ruling doge, and can be dated by analyzing the iconography on each coin.
Eventually it became fashionable for women across the Mediterranean world to stitch Venetian zecchini and other coins to their clothing and headdresses. Variations for the word zecchino–along with a similar Arabic word, sikka–ultimately evolved into sequin to describe any shiny circular adornment used on clothing.
The Ponte Vecchio of Florence
Posted: April 17, 2013 Filed under: Ancient, Art History, Authentic Shopping, Florence, Italy, Jewelry | Tags: artisans, authentic shopping, Florence, Italy, jewelry, Ponte Vecchio Leave a comment »
The Ponte Vecchio–the “Old Bridge”–of Florence is the oldest bridge in the city. Constructed between 1339 and 1346, the bridge spans the Arno River, connecting the Piazza della Repubblica with the Oltrarno district.
Both a commercial space as well as a major thoroughfare, the Ponte Vecchio has been a place to browse, barter, and people-watch for more than 600 years. The bridge has hosted shops since its construction in the fourteenth century. Florentines have constructed, reconstructed, renovated, and added onto the commercial buildings on the bridge over that time, and today these structures present a fascinating conglomeration of colors, styles, and functions.
Today the Ponte Vecchio is known for its jewelers who cater to a lucrative tourist trade. For that reason I don’t recommend buying here. Most of the sparkling items in the windows are not handmade, and unfortunately many were not even made in Florence. Still, strolling the bridge and window-shopping are an integral part of the Florentine experience, so don’t miss it! When you’re ready to buy, follow the bridge to the Oltrano district, home to a flourishing neighborhood of artisans who make everything by hand.
5 Things to Know about pysanky, traditional Easter eggs of Eastern Europe
Posted: March 29, 2013 Filed under: Ancient, Art History, Batik, Eastern Europe, Italy | Tags: artisans, batik, Belarus, Bulgaria, Easter, eggs, Lithuania, Poland, pysanky, Slovenia, Ukraine Leave a comment »
1. Pysanky are traditional handpainted eggs made during the Easter season throughout Eastern Europe, especially the Ukraine, Slovenia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland and Bulgaria. Their origins are lost to history, but ornamented eggs have been excavated from archaeological sites dating as far back as the prehistoric era.
2. Pysanky-makers use the wax-resist method, similar to batik, using a pin-like stylus to draw intricate designs in hot wax. The wax prevents color from adhering to the egg. Artisans apply wax and dye in alternating layers, building the design color by color from light to dark. The process may take many hours.
3. Traditionally people decorated raw eggs, but today many artisans prefer longer-lasting eggs made of wood, ceramic, or other materials.
4. Pysanky decoration varies from region to region, from village to village, from family to family. Many pysanky designs and traditions are handed down over generations, some carefully guarded secrets.
5. Recurring traditional motifs include geometric and plant forms, flowers and birds, and Christian symbols.
For more on pysanky, click here for my interview with Carolyn Flynn of the Albuquerque Journal.
What’s a connoisseur?
Posted: March 5, 2013 Filed under: Art History, Connoisseurship, Quotes | Tags: art history, art vs. craft, Panofsky, quotes Leave a comment »
“The connoisseur might be defined as a laconic art historian, and the art historian as a loquacious connoisseur.” –Erwin Panofsky in Meaning in the Visual Arts (1955)
The conversation of specialists
Posted: February 22, 2013 Filed under: Events | Tags: College Art Association, events Leave a comment »
The College Art Association Annual Conference opens today in Los Angeles…
“What a delightful thing is the conversation of specialists! One understands absolutely nothing and it’s charming.” –Edgar Degas
The Ancient Art of Chinese Silk
Posted: January 23, 2013 Filed under: China, National Geographic Traveler | Tags: China, National Geographic Traveler, silk, The Genuine Article Leave a comment »
In honor of Chinese New Year, my piece on Chinese silk for National Geographic Traveler…
With the flick of a cigarette lighter, a Shanghai merchant sets the fringe of a silk scarf ablaze. My jaw drops as the fringe singes, then disintegrates into a tiny smoldering pile of fine ash. The merchant smiles. Yes, I know the “burn test” is designed to amaze tourists and differentiate authentic silks from plastic-smelling synthetic threads that curl or melt when burned. Still, it’s impressive that even in China—a country known for mass production—some things remain provably real. Read more of Laura Morelli’s “The Genuine Article” at National Geographic Traveler…
Oaxacan Textiles: What You Should Know
Posted: January 10, 2013 Filed under: Art History, Authentic Shopping, Latin America, Mexico, Southwest, Textiles | Tags: Arizona, artisans, authentic shopping, Mexico, Morelli, Native American, New Mexico, Oaxaca, Su Casa Magazine, textiles, tradition Leave a comment »
Hanging from the wrought-iron balconies of Teotitlán del Valle, rugs flap gently in the breeze. The setting sun creates shadows across swaths of purple, red, and blue, illuminating diamonds, zigzags, and snarling serpents. For some two millennia, weaving these colorful textiles has been the lifeblood of residents of this humble village in southern Mexico. Today, visitors from around the globe flock to the state of Oaxaca, where it’s impossible not to be smitten with the colors and forms that characterize the region’s strong folk culture.
Read more at Su Casa Magazine...
