Antique Figurative Bobbin Lace Roundels Kings France: Late C18th Early C19th, Italy

A set of two handmade roundels depicting kings of France:

1. Saint Louis was Louis IX (1214 -
1270) King of France from 1226 - 1270

2. Henri 11 was the King of France from
1547 - 1559

3. Another figural bobbin lace panel, likely depicting a biblical or mythological scene such as Judith and Holofernes.

Dimensions: All slightly different
Approx: 11" x 11" × 16" diameter.

The first of the bobbin lace portraits depicts Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis, along with associated heraldic shields.
The central figure with a crown and cross on his cape represents Louis IX.
The shield on the upper left features vertical stripes, which are the Arms of the Kingdom of France (historically, France Ancien with fleurs-de-lis or later France Moderne with three fleurs-de-lis, but the stripes are a simplification or variation).
The shield on the upper right appears to be a depiction of a castle or fortified structure, possibly representing the arms of a specific territory associated with the king or a related noble house.
The partially visible shield on the lower left has a pattern that is less clear but likely another related coat of arms.

The second lace portrait depicts Henri 11, it has a repeat pattern of his monogram, most notably the double crescent moon, linked to his mistress Diane de Poitiers (as the goddess Diana) and his initial 'H', along with intertwined Hand D cyphers, and the traditional French fleur-de-lis, but his most distinctive personal emblems were the crescents and his initials, often seen intertwined on armor and decorations.
Key
• Intertwined Initials: Combinations of 'H' (for Henri) and 'D' (for Diane) were common, sometimes with Catherine de Médicis''C', often appearing in elegant strapwork.
• The Fleur-de-lis: The ancient symbol of French royalty, representing the divine right of the monarchy, continued to be used by Henri II.

These lace panels are a very fine example of this type of lace and would benefit by being stretched and mounted onto silk or velvet to present them at their best. This is a service we can offer from our dedicated textiles conservation studio. Please ask us for details and a quote for this service.

Dimensions: As these are handmade there are slight variations.
Approx 11” x 11” inches

Condition:
These have undergone professional cleaning by our textile conservation studio to remove many years of exposure to dirt and smoke. They are in excellent antique condition.