BANDERA EMBROIDERY

Bandera Embroidery origin is uncertain

In the second half 1600 a weaver of Chieri named Bandera, invented a cloth (which from him taken its name) to nest of bee, of raw cotton, in shade ecru or white, fit for the furnishing.

In that years in Turin, dead Charles Emanuele ll, became Queen, as regent, Maria Giovanna Baptist of Savoia Nemours, mother of the future Vittorio Amedeo ll.

In the first half of XVII° century, some civil wars and a terrible pestilence had struck the Piedmontputting the nobles of the epoch in great financial difficulties.

They immediately showed to appreciate the new fabric, very resistant and economic.

Having to welcome the new queen in their residences, they ordered great quantities of Bandera to dress again armchairs, read and couches worn-out and therefore unpresentable.

To adorn this new cloth they did it embroider, reproducing plasters, furniture and crowd volutes to chain stitch with pink, green, blue Savoia and yellow gold wool threads.

This is one hypotheses on the Bandera embroidery birth .

Other hypothesis, emerged by some recent studies, affirms that Bandera cloth was already known at the end of 1400, its name is of Turkish origin and it was also used for manufacturing suits.

In the XVIII century, with development of Baroque-rococò style, Bandera embroidery was enriched with flowers, fruits, birds, mythology scenes , performed to satin stitch (also says painting stitch because offers to fall through the colors as in a painting).

In that years numerous laboratories were born for execution of Bandera embroideries, among these the more asset was the Opera of Providence in Turin.

Only some armchairs and a headrest representing the fable of Daylight and Endimione, manufactured in this laboratory, have come to us and they are found at the Civic Museum in Turin.

Other samples of Bandera embroidery is preserved in the castles of Guarene, Santena, Pralormo and in private collections (Villa Agnelli at Villar Perosa, Accorsi Foundation, etc).

email: ilricamo@libero.it

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