A project by Margherita Tofanelli in collaboration with the Cathedral Museum and Archaeological Complex of Lucca
Through an investigation of ornamental patterns as traces of culture and craftsmanship, this project revisits the history of Lucca’s silk manufacturing tradition, highlighting its continuity through time. From the motifs carved into the Cathedral façade to the textiles preserved in the Museum’s collections, Giardini tessuti (woven garden) becomes a symbolic space where architecture, textile heritage, and visual design converge, generating new readings between memory and the present. Within this dialogue between heritage and contemporaneity, Margherita Tofanelli’s intervention takes shape as a new creative production that reinterprets the visual languages of the past in contemporary forms.
The exhibition will remain open until 30 April 2027 during the opening hours of the Cathedral Museum and Archaeological Complex of Lucca.
Margherita Tofanelli (1997) is a graphic designer and illustrator whose research focuses on the medieval silk manufacturing tradition of Lucca, culminating in the project Giardini tessuti. Her work investigates historical patterns through the observation of botanical, ornamental, and structural elements found in textiles, reinterpreting them through the language of contemporary graphic design. Her practice sits at the intersection of historical research, visual design, and the transmission of knowledge.
WORKSHOPS
Pattern Design & Textile Decoration
Family Workshops with Dedicated Guided Visits
26 September 2026
11.30 – 13.00 pm and 3.00 – 4.30 pm
A creative workshop dedicated to the discovery of pattern design, inspired by the decorative motifs of medieval gardens depicted in historic Lucchese silks.
Starting from recurring symbols in the textile tradition—plants, flowers, animals, and ornamental interlacings—participants will design their own decorative pattern, experimenting with the essential stages of pattern creation. After an initial design phase on paper, the motif will be transferred directly onto a fabric tote bag.
At the end of the workshop, each participant will take home a unique tote bag, entirely conceived and decorated by hand.
For information and bookings, please contact: didatticaterzomillennio@gmail.com and +39 342 1466451
Workshops for lower and upper secondary schools available from November 2026 to May 2027
From Fragment to Pattern: Reinterpreting the Archive
This workshop introduces students to pattern design through the observation of Lucca’s medieval textile heritage. Using photographs of fragments from historic fabrics, participants explore shapes, motifs, and decorative details, learning to identify the recurring elements that form ornamental designs.
Following a phase of observation and selection, each student reinterprets a chosen fragment through a simple process of deconstruction and recomposition, transforming it into a decorative module. The module is then repeated according to the principles of pattern design to create an original composition that brings historical heritage into dialogue with contemporary design.
The workshop develops skills in observation, visual interpretation, and creative design, offering an experience that combines art history, design, and graphic experimentation.
For information and bookings, please contact: didatticaterzomillennio@gmail.com and +39 342 1466451