Cyprus Embroidery, Thematic Issue

Cyprus Embroidery, Thematic Issue

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία
Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Since ancient times embroidery has been the domain of women the world over and the oldest piece of work from Egypt dates back to the 15th century BC. Embroidery has been at the heart of Cyprus Folk Art and the town of Lefkara the centre of the lace industry. From an early age, young women were expected to be skilled in spinning, weaving and embroidering which can be by needle-point, crochet or cross stitch methods. Their work is known as “Lefkaritika”.

Byzantine and Venetian designs influenced local designs but talented embroiderers also created their own original designs and patterns which reflect Cypriot culture. All their designs have original names and one of the best known is called “Potamos”, meaning river, which passes through the whole pattern forming diamonds and triangles. Multi-coloured geometric designs are called “Phitiotika”.

In 1910-11 some 1720 sterling pounds’ worth (equivalent to 178,000 pounds of unskilled wages in 2013) of lace was exported by post and this was without taking into account the sales made by merchants travelling to Europe and the States. This trade generated many thousands of pounds sterling for a population then estimated at 250,000 inhabitants.

Though Lefkara lace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, this folk art is now vanishing rather rapidly.

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus
Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus
Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

23rd March 2011

Designer: Konstantinos Panagi

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

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2011CS159, 2011CS160

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