Tag Archive for: byssus

Sant’Antioco has many attractions, but one of the most interesting is the workshop of Byssus master Chiara Vigo, the only sea silk weaver in Europe.

Byssus silk is obtained from the threads of the rare “Pinna Nobilis”, a saltwater clam that lives attach to the seabed and can be up to one meter long. The “Sea Silk” has a long history and is even mentioned in the Bible. It was used to create and decorate gorgeous fabrics by spinning and weaving byssus.

Chiara has dedicated her life to the art of extracting and processing this silk and is probably the greatest expert in this field today. She continues working on her great-grandmother’s ancient loom and weaves byssus into all sorts of fabrics and clothing items. For a small rectangle of this fabric, whose weight cannot be felt, it takes years of effort, but the consistency and golden color is worth every effort.