Illustrated Architecture Dictionary .......................... Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary
Illustrated Architecture Dictionary
..........................
Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary
Fleur-de-lis / Fleur-de-lys
flur de LEE
Plural: fleurs-de-lis / fleurs-de-lys
The Florence fleur-de-lis is unique in that it includes stamens Architecture
A stylized three-petaled iris flower tied by an encircling band, used as the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France (chosen by Charles V)
In French, "fleur-de-lis" means "flower of the lily."
A very old emblem, the Empress Theodora (A.D. 527) bore one on her crown. The coat of arms of ancient France (1179) was blue field sprinkled with fleur-de-lis. English kings later used the symbol on their coats of arms to emphasize their claims to the throne of France.
Holy Trinity: Due to its three "petals," the fleur-de-lis has also been used to represent the Holy Trinity.
Fleur-de-lis is also an emblem of royalty given to the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven.
"Louis VII of France dreamed of irises before setting out on the Crusades in 1137 and considered them to be a sign, and therefore adopted the flower as his emblem. It became known in France as the Fleur de Louis. They were popularized in England by Edward III, although they were dropped as a national standard during the Napoleonic Wars. Adopted by Christianity as a symbol of the trinity." - Gus Tassara, "Plant Symbolism"
The Florence fleur-de-lis symbol is unique in that it includes stamens.
Commonly found in Gothic and Gothic Revival styles.
Furniture
Used as decoration on furniture, also.
Similar to Prince of Wales feathers
Examples from Buffalo:
- Left illustration above: St. John's United Evangelical Church / St. John's United Church of Christ Stained glass window
- Annunciation RC Church Stained glass window - Example #1
- Annunciation RC Church Stained glass window - Example #2
- Annunciation RC Church Stained glass window - Example 3
- Shea's Buffalo Interior
- Hamburg Grange Building, Hamburg, N.Y.
- Miller Mansion Interior
- Horace Reed House
- 143 Linwood Avenue Stained glass window
- Photo: Berger's Department Store
- Furniture: Reproduction Hepplewhite side chair - Kittinger Furniture Co.
- Furniture: Gothic chair - Episcopal Church of the Ascension
- Furniture: Savonarola chair - Buffalo Religious Art Center
Other examples:
- Right illustration above: Palazzo Vecchio Museum
- Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy
- St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City Interior
- Pedlar People Sheetmetal Building Material Catalog, Canada Interior
- Furniture: Hepplewhite Chair - Colonial Furniture in America, by Luke Vincent Lockwood, 1926
- Wainscoting - Francois I Gallery, Fontainebleau Palace, France Interior
- Tribune Tower, Chicago, Illinois
- Château du Clos Lucé, Amboise, France
