#52Ancestors52Weeks....Week 46...Cultural.....The Tradition of Swaddling and The Brondolo Fasce (Swaddling Band)

 

 This mysterious roll of embroidered linen belonged to the Brondolo Family. What was it used for?? 

 

   This mysterious and intriguing roll of embroidered cloth has been in the box of Brondolo/Bertonasco pictures for years.  I have unrolled it on occasion, wondering what it was, how it was used and who it belonged to.  It was a mystery!  

 

 When the piece is unrolled, it is 6 feet in length.  It has a width of 6 1/2 inches.  It has strings on the finished end for tying. 

The finished end, underside, with  strings for tying. 

 "Amato Bene" means "Loved Well" or "Beloved" in Italian.  The embroidery was not done by hand, but by machine. 

 Amato Bene is repeated along with the pattern.  

      Was this a keepsake from a wedding? A confirmation?  A wall hanging or a table runner?  I found a Facebook group for all things 'Italian Genealogy' and several members knew right away that this was a beautiful  swaddling cloth.  It must have belonged to my grandmother Tersilla Palmina Brondolo, born in Vesime, Northern Italy, on March 31, 1911.  The swaddling cloth, or band, could have also been used for her siblings Emilio, Celestina, Francesco, Agostino and  Guilio.  Considering the relatively good condition it is in, it may have only been used for Nino (Tersilla) who was the baby of the family.  Sadly, we have no photographs of her as a baby. 

   After discovering what the cloth was used for I did some quick research into the practice of swaddling and its cultural significance.  I also found pictures of swaddling bands that were very similar to ours.  

   Swaddling is an ancient practice that has been passed down through generations and cultures. From ancient Greece to Roman times through the Medieval period and up to the 1800's, the practice of wrapping babies helped promote a sense of security and warmth, helped promote better sleep,  and served to limit a baby's movement to prevent accidental injury. It was also thought to prevent limbs from growing crooked.  Swaddling garments were often adorned with intricate designs and patterns to reflect the cultural artistry and craftsmanship of each society. Italian swaddling bands could be beautiful works of art...

 This is a needlepoint (cutwork) lace swaddling band made in Italy, Sicily, in the 16th century.  From the Cleveland Museum of Art. 

     The embroidery on our swaddling band appears to have been done by machine.  A contributor on the Italian Genealogy Facebook site suggested that it may have been done on a special embroidery machine after the turn of the century.  She said that it was not unusual for young girls to do this kind of embroidery after school hours.  These types of bands are still beautiful! 

This was advertised on Etsy as an "antique Italian swaddling band" from the 1920's.  It is made of cotton.  This one has Mille Baci embroidered on it....or "thousand kisses".  So sweet!  And very similar in style to ours. 

     Swaddling is a practice that was once widespread in Italy and much of Europe and the Mediterranean.  In fact, it was still a part of baby care in Italy, Germany and Russia up until the 1960's.  

  Linen fasce (baby band) from Italy, 1600-1625; Victoria and Albert Museum

This is how it was done!

Swaddling has come back in style with new parents these days, although in a more modern form.  Pictured are my grandchildren; both were swaddled as babies.  

Photograph taken in 2021. 

Amato Bene! 

Fasce:  Swaddling

      

References:

Victoria and Albert Collections

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O38155/swaddling-band-unknown/

Baby Wrapping-Traditional Baby Swaddling in Italy and Beyond October 29, 2018 Michael Curtotti     https://beyondforeignness.org/7340

{{cite web|title=Needlepoint (Cutwork) Lace Swaddling Band|url=https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1920.1132|author=|year=16th century|access-date=14 November 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}