Florence Betgeorge
Assyrian
BiographyFlorence was born in northern Iran in the Azerbaijan Province, a traditionally Assyrian Christian area. Assyrians speak a language similar to ancient Aramaic, and trace descent from the Babylonians of Mesopotamia. Florence attended Catholic school there, also learning textile arts from the French nuns who ran the school. After her marriage and a move to Tehran, diplomats and other wealthy patrons commissioned baby clothes, bedcovers, and trousseaux from her. Persecution of Assyrians intensified in Iran after the fall of the Shah and during the Islamic Revolution from 1978-1982, and Florence and her family immigrated to the United States in 1984. They settled in New Britain, Connecticut where Assyrians have established a strong community with a church and a cultural center. Florence creates exquisite embroidery, lace, decorative home textiles, and she can tailor any garment.
Florence makes lace using only a needle and 2 or 3 ply fine cotton thread, with a technique she describes as “needlework” or dentelle in French. This style creates knots that secure the delicate thread as the lace strands are built up, whereas in crochet lace the stitches are continuous and unravel if pulled. Her special addition to this technique creates writing in lace, with scripts in Aramaic.
Florence makes lace using only a needle and 2 or 3 ply fine cotton thread, with a technique she describes as “needlework” or dentelle in French. This style creates knots that secure the delicate thread as the lace strands are built up, whereas in crochet lace the stitches are continuous and unravel if pulled. Her special addition to this technique creates writing in lace, with scripts in Aramaic.
Person TypeIndividual
American, 1875 - 1974