Lefkara lace stamp

Scott #562-564

The stamp set commerates the 1481 visit of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) to Cyprus. According to popular lore, he visited the village of Lefkara in the province of Larnaca and purchased an embroidered cloth for the main alter at the Cathedral of Milan. This event is legendary in Lefkara, and today there is a type of work known as “Leonardo da Vinci design”, although what he actually took is reputed to have been called the "potamos" design.

So what historical backup is there for this story? Obviously the craft itself is important enough to warrant a stamp, and the example in my collection is very similar to the stamp photo (especially note the twisted fringe knotted at the ends in both pieces). But the piece shown in the stamp is too late for a date of 1481. In fact Leonardo would have missed what we know as 'lace' entirely.

Cyprus was occupied by the Venetians from 1489 to 1581.

Lefkaritika The local name of cut-work in the Lefkara embroidery is “tayiadha”, derived from the Italian “punto-tagliato”.

additional stamps in this set

first posted 3/17/2009