Our company distinguishes itself through the superb quality of each creation, entirely handmade according to the ancient tradition of the island. On this website, you can admire an exclusive selection of the precious pieces available in our historic shop and the fascinating Lace Museum.

Our history has deep roots dating back to 1930, when several schools dedicated to the art of lacemaking flourished in Burano. Among these, the one directed by Mrs. Erminia Costantini, affectionately known as “Mora Boccolo,” the great-grandmother of the current owner of Dalla Lidia Merletti d'Arte, Davide Bressanello, stood out.

It was in that year that “Mora Boccolo,” on the occasion of the upcoming wedding of her daughter Augustina Bressanello, wished to create, with the mastery of the lacemakers of her school, a sumptuous wedding dress and a trousseau composed of the finest bed linens, embroidered bedspreads, delicate curtains, and elegant tablecloths. Every single stitch would be rigorously executed according to the Punto Burano technique. However, aware of the considerable time and effort required for such a grand undertaking, “Mora Boccolo” decided to involve other prestigious lace schools on the island, making a significant investment.

During the difficult period of the war, the activity of the family school and all other entities dedicated to Burano lace art underwent a drastic reduction. The lacemakers, often forced to work by the dim light of candles, faced immense challenges. It was in this context that Augustina, with an act of extraordinary generosity, decided to sell her precious wedding dress to guarantee the lacemakers' wages, thus preserving an ancient art.

A tragic fire, most likely ignited by the candles used by the lacemakers during their long hours of work, devastated the Burano Lace School run by the nuns. Most of the intricate and precious lace designs were irretrievably lost, a severe blow to the tradition.

Upon returning from the war, “Mora Boccolo’s” son, Mario Bressanello, known as “Boccolo,” married his beloved Lidia Vio, nicknamed “Battelétto,” and with renewed commitment decided to carry on his mother's legacy. “Boccolo” welcomed new lacemakers to the family school and embarked on the autonomous creation of lace designs, relying only partially on external collaborators, with the precious exception of Mr. D’Este Emilio, a talented designer from the Burano Lace School, from whom he purchased all the designs miraculously saved from the fire. With a farsighted entrepreneurial vision, “Boccolo” then decided to open the first real shop of Burano lace art directly on the island, naming it “Dalla Lidia Merletti d’Arte” in honor of his wife. The shop offered a vast and refined selection of lace, many of which were designed by “Boccolo” himself and not made to order.

With the entry into the family business of his son Luigi Bressanello, known as “Leon,” and his daughter-in-law Paola Toselli, nicknamed “Forner,” the atelier experienced exponential growth. Paola passionately assisted Mario Bressanello in the development of new and original designs, in the scrupulous selection of new lacemakers, and in the meticulous crafting of lace, personally executing all the complex Punto Burano stitches, including those that time had almost made forgotten. Luigi, sensing the potential arising from the closure of the Burano Lace School, decided to open his precious collection of antique lace to the public, enriching it over the years with rare French, Belgian, English, and Russian examples, thus creating a lace museum of international renown.

Luigi also cherished the desire to find his aunt Augustina's legendary wedding dress and, after years of seemingly fruitless searches, finally managed to take possession of it in 1980, a true family treasure.

Starting in the 2000s, the atelier also welcomed Paola and Luigi's son, Davide Bressanello, also known as “Leon,” and their grandson, Andrea Predosin. This new generation brought with it a development in a modern key, introducing innovative designs, experimenting with new stitches, and using precious yarns, including 24-karat gold thread. The atelier also embarked on prestigious collaborations with companies specializing in the luxury sector, opening up to a new and stimulating market. Emblematic of this family's "innovative tradition" is the creation, in 2016, of the first statue made entirely of Burano lace art. And, to honor the birth of the atelier, the famous wedding dress created in 1930 was reinterpreted in a contemporary style, skillfully blending history and modernity.