OIDFA 2004 international exhibition in Prague was the occasion to look at the situation of lace today.
Each nation displayed the best of its production: some more oriented towards artistic research, others going deeper into traditional decorative motives (the leitmotif of the whole exhibition); in both cases they reached the highest level of design and realisation.




Italy was well represented by the Associazione Merletti d'Arte di Cantù (President Ms Rita Bargna) and by Gorizia Lace School, whose Maestre Merlettaie: Paola Braini, Maria Bissacco e Giuliana Petronio were awarded 3 prizes at the International Clothing Accessory Contest and distinguished themselves by their individual and innovative style.



Prague also showed its heart in the various exhibitions scattered around its mediaeval centre.
The Arts and Crafts Museum, which hosts a permanent exhibition of History of Costumes, Laces and Embroideries, devoted an exhibition to modern lace from the 70's till today, very attractively presented, and entitled "Metamorphosis".


Various ateliers opened their door disclosing the busy cultural life and the research activity centred on thread.
The presence of this wide artistic movement can be explained by visiting the Prague School of Textile Arts, which takes care of the training of future lacemakers;
we were able to visit it and realised how much importance is attached to textiles in all their forms of expression: lace, weaving, embroidery, restoration.
Male and female students showed the high level of training in design and execution.

The Prague experience would not be complete without referring to the textile works of Jewish tradition: at the R.Guttmann Gallery precious lace was displayed: in metal thread for the decoration of ceremonial vests from the 17th to the 19th centuries, in silk and cotton for clothing, very well represented by an iconographic collection from the 18th to the 20th centuries.





Guest nation was Greece, with its typical bobbin and needle lace; the next Oidfa rendez-vous in 2006 will be in Athens and the local Oidfa club will be in charge of the organisation.

July 20th, 2004 - Rosalba Pepi


We would like to thank the Oidfa Council for the hospitality we were given in Prague, which we will be happy to return next year during the Italia Invita Forum.