A 19th Century Mezzaro dell Albero Textile

Genoa, 19th century, woodblock printing / silk-screen printing on cotton.
The term mezzaro refers to a large linen or cotton square that women from Liguria used to wear over their head and shoulders. The etymology of this word derives from the Arabic term Mizar, which means cover or hide, and that was translated to the Genoese word mesar / mezzaro.

These throws were usually decorated with the imagery of the Albero della Vita, the Tree of Life, starting from 17th century when the merchants from the East India Company were stopping by in Genoa while on route to England. The Albero della Vita quickly became popular among the noble families of Genoa, decorating their palaces and symbolising the wealth of the upper classes.

The printing technique consisted in small pear wood matrices ('stampini') dipped in ink and dabbed on the fabric. This technique was originally from India and it was rapidly learnt by the artisans in Liguria, who established their textile and printing workshops in the area of Val Polcevera. Their mezzeri immediately gain popularity and were exported to countries across Europe, especially to England.

Ref: SN5297

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