Peniche Bobbin Lace Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Leiria > Peniche > Peniche > Conceição

Location

The Peniche Bobbin Lace Museum is located in the Conceição area, a zone integrated into the urban fabric of the city of Peniche. Its position within the locality allows for easy integration into the community's daily environment, inviting the discovery of one of its most representative cultural elements.

The Legacy of Threads

Bobbin Lace is widely recognized as a cultural symbol of Peniche, a savoir-faire that stands as one of the pillars of local identity. With origins lost in the 17th century and a visible peak in the second half of the 19th century, this textile art represents a living heritage, a testament to secular traditions. Throughout history, it was an important activity for the women of the community, supplementing family incomes through the sale of these delicate pieces.

The Museum Experience

Inaugurated in 2016 and part of the municipality's museum network, the Peniche Bobbin Lace Museum is dedicated to the study, conservation, and dissemination of this heritage. The space offers an exhibition that addresses bobbin lace in its material and intangible aspects, allowing for a deep understanding of its importance. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions that highlight the various facets of this craft with over four centuries of history, and one can observe a remarkable piece that contains the oldest known iconographic representation of Peniche bobbin lace, associated with the painter Josefa de Óbidos.

Technique and Tradition

Bobbin lace is an art that involves the mastery of interlacing multiple threads wound around small spindles, known as bobbins. Lacemakers work on a cylindrical pillow, following a design previously pricked onto a card, the "pique" (pricking). The variety of stitches and techniques is vast, with geometric, marine, and floral motifs being a constant presence, reflecting the community's connection to the sea. In Peniche, the particular technique of working with palms facing upwards gives the lace a unique consistency.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt