For a great many years Brazil’s Northeast has exported its beautiful lace to the four corners of the world. The rendeira (lace maker woman) with her patient and well-crafted work, printed an unparalleled brand in the crafts of the Northeast. The work of these women enchants for simplicity but also for its art and creativity

Lace making started in Europe,especially in Italy and Belgium, andwas brought to France by the court ofLouis XV. From France it expanded toPortugal and England.The Portuguese brought lace to Brazil, where it became an important form of handicraft, both in the Northeast and in Santa Catarina, in the South. The rendeira weaves the thread on a pillow with the aid of bobbins, which are used in pairs .

Renda de BilroBobbin lace

Ceará, a major center for handicrafts in the country

Ceará

Bobbin lace from Aracati, Ceará

Aracati, Ceará

Divina Pastora - Sergipe

Rio Grande do Norte

Maranhão

Piauí

Bahia - Saubara – Recôncavo

Saubara, Bahia

Saubara

Saubara

Ilha de Maré - Bahia

1976

Ilha de Maré

Filet Lace is made with a knitting needle and

was developed using the same technique used

by fishermen for making their fishing nets.

This very old technique was common among

the Egyptians and Persians and spread well in

Europe, from where it was brought to Brazil by

the Portuguese colonizers. Filet lace is quite

common in the states of Alagoas and Sergipe.

Filet lace

Maceió, Alagoas

Alagoas – famous for its filet lace

Filet lace - Maceió

Filet lace - Maceió

Renaissance lace started in the island of Burano in Venice - Italy and arose

and developed in the seventeenth century, during the period of the

Renaissance, from which it derives its name. It came to Brazil with

European missionaries and nuns and here developed rapidly in the

Northeast region, particularly in the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba.

Renaissance lace is highly valued because of its technical complexity.

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Renaissance Lace

Olinda - Pernambuco

Renaissance lace from Olinda

Renaissance lace

Renaissance - Paraíba

Renaissance from Pernambuco

Pernambuco – wedding gown

Renaissance from Alagoas

Divina Pastora, Sergipe

Irish laceRecognized as Brazil Cultural Heritage

Aracaju, Sergipe

Irish lace– Divina Pastora, Sergipe

Chãs do Pereira - Paraíba

Labirinto lace from Chãs do Pereira - Paraíba

Orobó, Pernambuco

Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia

Redendê from Maceió

Crochet - Canoa Quebrada, Ceará

Parnaíba, Piauí

Richelieu - mandatory in candomblé

liturgical vestments – Bahia

.....

Richelieu - Salvador, Bahia

Bahia - Cachoeira

LilibethAudio: Elba Ramalho, Mulher Rendeira