Illustration depicting girandoles: these were elaborate set pieces which were hung from ropes on feast days in Italian cities, particularly in Tuscany. A wooden frame was padded with hay. Figures were constructed in the same way, but with Plaster-of-Paris heads, hands and feet and dressed in painted cloth. In this way a fabulous tale or historical scene was built up. Fireworks were placed all over the structure, including squibs and rockets. A really large piece would contain as many as 3,000 fireworks. Dated 16th century

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Size: 6549px × 3202px
Location:
Photo credit: © World History Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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