Copper Basin. Important Fleur-de-lys Decoration. 18th Century.

Forged basin, with flat edge folded over in casing step, rolled on a stiffener. Projecting lid, with corded edge, decorated on a matte background, with a large and profuse fleur-de-lis engraved and stamped with chisels. Twisted tail with riveted legs, extended by a turned wooden handle. Diameter: 30cm. Total length: 100cm. 18th century. Very good condition. Minimal and discreet maintenance restorations. See additional information at: http://antiquites-lauginie.fr/bassinoire/ Free shipping by COLISSIMO for metropolitan France. About the fleur-de-lis, and its multiple origins, we can see in it, according to some, the shape of a toad, a badly drawn bee or the tip of a Frankish partisan. Others argue that in Celtic "fleur de lis" translates to "king's flower". Botanists themselves recognize it as the “swamp iris flower”. It is certain that its first representations date back to the time of CLOVIS, but the kings of France did not adopt it until the end of the 12th century. Fleurs-de-lis abound in royal furniture under Philipe le Bel and Charles VI. Later inventories of Crown furniture under Louis XIV and Louis XV show fleur-de-lis everywhere. According to Henry HAVARD: "Under the old regime, the emblematic value of lilies was so well accepted that the permission granted by the king to wear fleur-de-lis was equivalent to a sort of delegation of the power and attributions of which the prince was invested. The coats of arms of many cities and provinces, as well as corporations and communities adopted the fleur-de-lis. This authorized many individuals to decorate everyday objects with fleur-de-lis, with the aim of placing themselves, out of interest, fear, conviction, under the symbolic protection of the king, at a time when prudence imposed the display of evidence. that we were neither Protestant, nor freethinker, nor encyclopaedist… The fleur-de-lis on coats of arms predate the Bourbons and were never exclusively the emblem of their house. This is why, from the 12th century, they are found on the shield of the great Families of France, Germany, Prussia, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands.