PETIT POINT

This time we decided to focus on embroidery, not lace. The above set, consisting of a collar, button-covers and also pocket-covers, was made for a gentleman at the end of the 18th century. The embroidered scene displays a romantic setting.

The origin of Petit Point is told in the legend of Penelope. During the long time she waited for the return of her beloved husband Ulysses, she created a beautiful tapistry.There are still a lot of remaining Petit Point works from the Middle Ages and Renaissance period. Not only in decorative objects but also in the adorning of clothes, can one find the history of hunting or the desire to let his loved one know of his amorous feelings.

The Petit Point made during the reign of Louis XIV had plenty of flower decorations. During the reign of Louis XV, animals were incorporated in the design, for example monkeys and squirrels. When Franois Boucher became Court-painter, he introduced pastorale-scenes, but always with great elegance. Petit Point was a beloved type of embroidery, even by the ladies of nobility. It was Marie Antoinette's favourite hobby.

By Diane Claeys, Jeri Ames and Colette Didembourg