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.