Mundillo
Encyclopedia
Mundillo is a craft of handmade bobbin lace
that is cultivated and honored on the island of Puerto Rico
. The term 'mundillo' means 'little world', referring to the cylindrical pillow on which the lace maker ('Mundillista') weaves intricate designs. The decorative lace
is created using wooden bobbin
s about the diameter of a pencil, which are wound with thread that is twisted and crossed to form a pattern
. Depending on the pattern, as few as two dozen or as many as several hundred bobbins may be used.
In addition to its use as edging and borders on tablecloths and handkerchief
s, and for traditional shirt collars and trim, mundillo is also used to decorate items for special occasions, such as wedding dresses, baptismal gowns, and the cloths used to adorn religious icons. It is said that it was once common for lovers to exchange mundillo lace with romantic inscriptions.
Bobbin lace was brought to Puerto Rico from Spain
, where it had thrived in major commercial markets as well as a cottage industry in Galicia, Castilla
, and Catalonia
. In Spain, lace is called encaje, because it was worked on separately and then joined to material (the Spanish word for "join" is encajar). In Puerto Rico, the towns of Moca
, Isabela
, and Aguadilla, all in the northwestern part of the island, are famous for mundillo lace. In Moca
, commonly known as the Capital or cradle of Mundillo, there is an annual festival dedicated to the handmade lace as well as a museum, El Museo Del Mundillo.
Bobbin lace
Bobbin lace is a lace textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of thread, which are wound on bobbins to manage them. As the work progresses, the weaving is held in place with pins set in a lace pillow, the placement of the pins usually determined by a pattern or pricking pinned on the...
that is cultivated and honored on the island of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The term 'mundillo' means 'little world', referring to the cylindrical pillow on which the lace maker ('Mundillista') weaves intricate designs. The decorative lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
is created using wooden bobbin
Bobbin
A bobbin is a spindle or cylinder, with or without flanges, on which wire, yarn, thread or film is wound. Bobbins are typically found in sewing machines, cameras, and within electronic equipment....
s about the diameter of a pencil, which are wound with thread that is twisted and crossed to form a pattern
Pattern
A pattern, from the French patron, is a type of theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set of objects.These elements repeat in a predictable manner...
. Depending on the pattern, as few as two dozen or as many as several hundred bobbins may be used.
In addition to its use as edging and borders on tablecloths and handkerchief
Handkerchief
A handkerchief , also called a handkercher or hanky, is a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose...
s, and for traditional shirt collars and trim, mundillo is also used to decorate items for special occasions, such as wedding dresses, baptismal gowns, and the cloths used to adorn religious icons. It is said that it was once common for lovers to exchange mundillo lace with romantic inscriptions.
Bobbin lace was brought to Puerto Rico from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where it had thrived in major commercial markets as well as a cottage industry in Galicia, Castilla
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
, and Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. In Spain, lace is called encaje, because it was worked on separately and then joined to material (the Spanish word for "join" is encajar). In Puerto Rico, the towns of Moca
Moca
Moča is a village and municipality in the Komárno District in the Nitra Region of south-western Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 110 metres and covers an area of 17.991 km².It has a population of about 1,170 people....
, Isabela
Isabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...
, and Aguadilla, all in the northwestern part of the island, are famous for mundillo lace. In Moca
Moca
Moča is a village and municipality in the Komárno District in the Nitra Region of south-western Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 110 metres and covers an area of 17.991 km².It has a population of about 1,170 people....
, commonly known as the Capital or cradle of Mundillo, there is an annual festival dedicated to the handmade lace as well as a museum, El Museo Del Mundillo.