HI, I've done extensive research into the lace tradition in Idrija as my European family is from that area of Slovenia; I studied with a teacher from the Idrija Lace School and I have been teaching this lace in the United States. According to the history from the the Idrija Lace School and the Mining Museum in Idrija- lace was first brought to Idrija by Czech miners who came to the area to work in the mercury mine that is located there. Many of my relatives worked in this mine. When the mine wasn't in operation for whatever reason, both men and woman made lace to suppliment the family income.
The first director of the Idrija School of lace was Ivanka Fernancic who studied lace making in Italy in the late 1800's. She and her brother were designers of the first patterns that we know of as being classified as Idrija Lace. It wasn't until the Italians occupied that region of Slovenia for a short time after WWII that the narrow tape lace that we recognize as typical Idrija lace became known. The Italians recognized a potential market for the lace and set the rules as far as design. Traditional lace from Slovenia was a wide tape prior to this. Today Idrija lace is classified as any lace that is recognized - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
