Beaded Flowers at Beaded Garden

Flowers of Venice - Book Review

Flowers of Venice
by Giovanna Poggi Marchesi
Translated to English from Italian.

Translated to English from Italian I Fiori di Venezia by Giovanna Poggi Marchesi. This book is a gorgeous hardcover book and makes a perfect gift for yourself or another French-beaded flower enthusiast.

The introductory material of this book is fascinating. The author goes into the history of beaded flowers and the making of glass beads in venice. She says:

"The most ancient Venetian documents with detailed descriptions of glass-bead flowers is the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a book printed in 1499 by Aldus Manutius the Elder. This unual text approaches garden design as if it were an architectural element, worthy of the house it was meant to beautify, and where vegetatation was used as if it were a material such as marble or stone. The garden, which contained topiaries as well as statues, was designed according to rigid geometric patterns and could include fountains, arbors, flower beads, and mazes. A scale model in silk and Murano conteria was made of this garden; unfortunately it has not survived, and all we are left with is its description."

In the 19th century, sisters Eulalia and Amalia Doriga who had lived in Paris, brought to Venice the art of making beaded flowers they became popular almost overnight. This supplied jobs and income to lots of women. France was the major market for funeral wreaths made with beaded flowers. By the end of the 19th century, Venetia beaded flowers were displayed all around the home. After World War II the art began to die.

A few artisans kept on with the tradition and a woman named Nella Sammartini Lopez y Royo learned this art from them, adding her own innovations and ideas over the years. The author of this book "Giovanna Poggi Marchesis" is her niece who is now her assistant and the "designated heir to the craft". I don't know exactly what it means to be a "designated heir to the craft" but it sure sounds impressive.

The author describes an interesting method of working . . . different than what we're used to. She prepares beads on wire in advance and hangs them up like a curtain of beads (there's a picture in the book). These beaded wires are 40 inches of beads on 56 inches of wire. The instructional part of the book refers to these as "strings". Any other references to wire is called "wire." Good thing I read the intro material as I wouldn't have any clue as to what the directions meant by strings. Of course, there's absolutely no reason why you couldn't proceed as we usually do by stringing the beads onto the wire and leaving it attached to the spool. However, the method of using these beaded "strings" seems like a good way to be able to easily take some beading with you when you travel.

Another nice feature of the book is that it begins with simple techniques and moves to more advanced techniques. Also, the pictures are gorgeous and there are some additional projects besides beaded-flowers. I liked the gift box which is made using the frame technique (like we've seen for morning glory's). One of the samples is lined with a mother of pearl slab and it looks quite elegant. Other projects include beaded carnival masks, a bridal bouquet, curtain tiebacks, decorated lamp shades, and a decorated mirror frame.

The more I read the more I liked this book.