| Silk from the sea |
|
Gossamer-fine, this is perhaps the world's weirdest and most expensive thread to be used in fabrics. Most textiles are plant-based: hemp, flax, cotton, even cactus. Sheep, horses and goats, even rabbits, provide fur and wool, and then there's the silkworm of course.
As far as anyone knew, there was no fibre that came from the sea. Called seasilk or mermaid silk, byssus can only be gathered from Sardinian and Puglian sea caves, the spinning, weaving and use of it is a dying art, known only to a handful of local women such as Chiara Vigo (above) from Sant’Antioco, an island just off the south-western coast of Sardinia.
Its beauty, sheerness and rarity makes it a greatly desired, but you will never see it in a shop or for sale anywhere unless you travel to the area where it is used. Even then you may not be able to buy any as the artisan weavers say it should not be sold.
Byssus is similar to silk worm thread as it’s the product of animal secretions. However, the producer is an underwater creature, the giant pen shell pinna nobilis bivalve clam. Divers often have to make several dives just to gather a small amount of byssus so it is said to be worth more than diamonds or platinum. Anyone who wants to find out more about the history of sea silk can go to the Byssus Museum in Sant'Antioco, where Chiara Vigo welcomes tourists, school children and anyone else interested into her workshop, to demonstrate the magic of this ancient craft. Read more about this fascinating textile of nature at ..... |
Related Articles
- Window on Milan and Lake Como
- Cook like an Italian chef
- Coming up in Italy
- Window on Sardinia
- Window on Venice
- The cuisine of Italy's 'heel'
- Belmond offers a Villeggiatura
- Twenty top reasons to visit Italy
- Work and travel in Italy
- Eurochocolate is the word
- Taste tour of Sicily
- World's smallest mobile library
- A villa in Chianti
- Unbelievably intricate art in Naples
- An Italian ghost town
- Italy's blue ribbon road
- Terre Madre 2018
- Mystery castle of the south
- Monster magic
- Fairytale island in a lake
- Rambling to Rome
- Sicily's writers' trail
- Venice gets a helping hand
- Italy's football island
- V is for Venice
- Gruesome grottos
- World's largest Christmas tree
- Stay in a Monastery
- Ca Sagredo, Venice, Italy
- Sizzling Sicily
- Belmond Hotel Cipriani
- Food and art in Tuscany
- Meet Sarah in Venice
- Suppli in Italy
- Eataly in Italy
- Italian Easter cakes
- Ride like an Italian
- Taste Sicily
- Budget gondolas, Venice
- Eating gelato in Rome
- Italy's distant islands
- Luxury Venice
- Tour Tuscany
- Street food in Italy
- Christmas in Tuscany
- Monastery Tours
- The rest of 'The Boot'
- Fascinating Facts about Sicily
- Facts about Sicily
- Let's Visit Sicily
- Italian - a few words
- La Pasticceria - Italian pastry shop
- Coffee in Italy
- Pizza - Italy's contribution
- Dining in Italy
- Driving in Southern Italy
- Southern Italy on a plate
- Christmas in Liguria
- Just a Little Italian accommodation details
- Escape to the Hills
- More to See and Do
- Food to Taste
- Places to Visit
- Things to Do
- Helpful Information
- Explore Italy and Its Food
- In the Mood for Italy
- Introduction to Rome
- Hello Tuscany
- Introducing Venice (Venezia)
- Out in the Tuscan Sun
- Rome's Left Bank
- Southern Comfort
- Venetian Class
|
Www.Foodandtravel.Com.Au - Australia Best Food Travel Website 2021
foodandtravel.com.au has been awardedBest Antipodean Culinary Travel Expert, 2019by the prestigious UK-based magazine... |
.png)
|
Have you ever wondered how some people continuously come up with stunning photos, and you don't?
FUJIFILM can solve your problems. Check out this BRAND NEW offer....
Planning a visit to Kerala? The old port district of Kochi is well worth seeing, as well.
Our tuk-tuk driver, Shaheer, showed us the secrets of the narrow back streets. To contact Shaheer...
Mobile: 9946129040
LISTEN TO SALLY'S PODCASTS... ...from all around the world
Tune in and hear her talks on Radio 2GB 873AM....
WHO LIKES SWISS CHEESE? Did you miss seeing the recent story of the Swiss festival of cows coming down from the mountains?
Denmark Delivers Copenhagen's canals, a palace with pomp and cermnony, a kilometre-long shopping street, crayon-cooured canal-front dining...
...what more can a visitor ask for? Find out, because there is much more.
History and beauty with a dash of fun...
...and that's just the beginning of Armenia!
Zany Zadar & Croatia's north
Crazy and beautiful, a place everyone should visit.
Lovely Lisbon ~ and beyond. Sardines and secrets!
Two virtual visits to Ontario
AND
Where is Tbilisi? Once you discover its beauty and history, you will be making plans to visit as soon as you can.
Read more....
Madrid the marvelous - so much to see in Spain's capital.
If you missed reading about Thailand's organic produce....
Here's something fun to check out! The world's most popular surnames ....
~ Northern Spain ~ mountains and miracles - and much more! After this journey, many people will never see the world the same way again.
Visit Portugal's beautiful hearl....
Gondolas, cathedrals, cakes and a palace thrown in for good measure.
And how about these vineyards in Georgia?
See other gardens in strange locations here....
Make your own food and travel videos? YES YOU CAN!
Gordon Hammond gives some insider tips.....
Travelling to Sydney? The northern beaches are spectacular.
Hungary has something for every traveller.
Especially those who love good food...
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)