SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5th August (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Tenerife Cabildo will be showcasing the Tenerife rosette at the inaugural International Congress ‘The Art of Embroidery: History, Tradition and New Horizons’ scheduled to take place from 27th to 30th November in Lorca (Murcia).
The exhibition, featuring pieces from the collections of the Museum of Ibero-American Crafts in Tenerife (MAIT), is making its way to the mainland as part of this informative initiative that seeks to serve as a springboard for the study and promotion of this art form.
Efraín Medina, the Minister of Employment and Education, highlighted that the rosette is a part of one of the oldest forms of textile art. Additionally, Medina expressed that the dissemination of the rosette craft to other autonomous communities “represents a significant achievement as we are able to delve into the similarities between these embroidery traditions and techniques.”
The Tenerife rosette is a longstanding form of textile art that continues to be practised on the island with the same techniques as in the past.
By the end of the 19th century, it transitioned from being a domestic activity to an industrial one, requiring a considerable workforce much like openwork. In fact, these creations were exported by foreign trading companies to various European markets such as the UK, Germany, and France, as well as the North American market.
Recognised worldwide as rosettes or Tenerife roses, this lace style is distinguished by its circular, flower-like design. The knowledge and skills of rosette making have been passed down through generations, resulting in production being concentrated in specific areas on the islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote.
Presently, rosettes can be found in Vilaflor, San Miguel de Abona, Granadilla, Arona, La Orotava, and La Laguna, where the interest in learning about and promoting rosettes has been steadily growing.
Embroidery encompasses a multitude of artistic expressions and has played a role in the advancement of numerous public and private activities. It is an art form that has united divergent and distant worlds and cultures.
The objective of the Congress is to provide a platform to present and discuss the latest research findings on the history of embroidery in its broadest sense, without prioritising specific cultural, artistic, or chronological realms, but rather encompassing all aspects that a time-honoured art like embroidery entails. Moreover, there is a focus on shaping perspectives on the museums that preserve and safeguard these artefacts.
