Napkin with sea silk embroidery, 20th s.

Napkin with sea silk embroidery, 1st half 20th century, Scuola Martellotta, I-Taranto. Private property (MS Inventory 63).

“Tovaglietta a motivi marini ricamata con filo di bisso marino su seta”, mulberry silk, sea silk embroidered with sea motifs, 48×22 cm.

In September 2018 the Archivio di Stato in Taranto, under the direction of Dr. Lucia D’Ippolito, hosted an exhibition: “Ulivo e Bisso Marino. Il mediterraneo che unisce.” For the first time, it was possible to exhibit unknown sea silk objects from private persons. Also, important written documents and photographs were on display, which added to the history of the sea silk in Taranto. This napkin belongs to these objects.