132

HISTORY OF LACE.

point de toile.” 2 * * * * 7 The valance, too, and coverlet of the bed wereof the same material—wedding presents to his daughter and hercousins from their royal father. 8

In this luxury, however, England followed her sister kingdom;for we read in the “ Koyal Magazine ” of 1763 that on the baptismof the young prince, afterwards Duke of York, the companywent to the council chamber at St. James’s, where a splendid bedwas set up for the queen to sit on, the counterpane of which isdescribed as of inimitable workmanship, the lace alone costing37^37 sterling. 9 “ What princes do themselves, they engageothers to do,” says Quintilian, and the words of the critic were,in this case, fully verified: pipes, 10 corsets, mantles, aprons withtheir bibs, 11 shoes, 12 gloves, 13 even the fans were now trimmedwith point de France. 14

At the audience given by the dauphine to the Siamese ambas-sadors, “ a ses relevailles,” she received them in a bed “ presquetout couvert d’un tres beau Point de France, sur lesquels on avoitmis des riches carreaux.” 15 On the occasion of their visit toVersailles, Louis, proud of his fabric, presented the ambassadors

2 “ Le Mercure Galant.”

8 It was the custom, at the birth of a

dauphin, for the papal nuncio to go to

the palace and present to the new-born

child “les langes benites, ’ or consecratedlayette, on behalf of his holiness the

Pope. The Bhirts, handkerchiefs, andother linen, were by half-dozens, andtrimmed with the richest point. Thiscustom dates as early as the birth of

Louis XIII. Merrier describes the cere-mony of carrying the layette to Versaillesin the time of Louis XV. “ Vie du Dau-phin, pere de Louis XVI.” Paris, 1858.

9 In the Lancaster state bedroom, at

Fonthill, was sold in 1823: “ A state

bed quilt of Brussels point, for 100

guineas, and a Brussels toilet cover, for

30 guineas.”—F onthiU Sale Catalogue.

“1694. Une toilette de satin violetpicquee garny d un point d’Espagne d’ora deux carreaux de mesme satin et aussipique.”— Inv. de Mgr. de la Vrilliere,Patriarphe , Archeveque de Bmtrges. Bib.Nat.

“ 1743. Une toilette et son bonhommegarnie d une vieille dentelle d’Angle-

torre.”— Inv. de la Duchesse de Bourbon.

“ 2758. Une toilette avec sa touaillede point fort vieux d’Alenqon.”— Inv. deMademoiselle de t'harollais.

“1770. Une tres belle toilette depoint d’Argentan, et son surtout de 9000livres.

“ Une tres belle toilette d'Angleterre,et son surtout de 9000.”— Cptes. de Ma-dame du Barry.

10 “ Qn voit toujours des jupes de pointde France.”— Mercure Galant, 1686.

“ Corsettcs chnmarres de point deFrance.”— Ibid.

11 Madame de Se'vigne describes Made-moiselle de Blois as “belle comme unange,” with “ un tablier et une bavettede point de France.”— Lettres. Paris27 Jan. 1674.

12 “ Garnis de point de France formantune maniere de rose antique.”— MercureGalant, 1677.

18 In the “ Extraordinaire du Mercure”for 1678, we have, in “habit d'este,”gloves of “ point d’Angleterre.

14 “Mercure Galant,” 1672.

,s Ibid. 1686.