Opposite and this page: Alength of heddle velvet in the
Rinascimento pattern drapes
from one of the ancient looms in
the Bevilacqua workshop. The
company allows visitors to witness
weavers operating eighteen such
looms, which date to the eighteenth
century. It’s a painstaking process
entailing physical labor and great
attention to detail, and with some
fabrics, an artisan may complete
just one-half yard or less of cloth
in a day’s work.
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