Style Spotlight: Fleur-de-lis
Anyone who has ever loved the old-world charm of royalty, especially the French court, is familiar with the fleur-de-lis. Translated literally, it means “lily flower.” A passing glance opens your eyes to the stylized lily flower that it is meant to represent. Featured prominently in conjunction with Catholic saints (notably St. Joseph), the symbol has become synonymous with French royalty.
French historian Georges Duby says that the three petals of the fleur-de-lis represent the three classes of people in medieval France: those who worked, who fought, and who prayed. While never officially adopted by the French republic, it is the most easily recognized symbol of that country and culture. But the fleur-de-lis’s influence extended beyond France. It actually appears on the coat of arms for the Spanish king, given his familial history (he hailed from the French house of Bourbon). Florence, Italy, also bears a fleur-de-lis symbol in its coat of arms. However, because of the distaste of imperial symbolism, the Florentine version features unfurled outer petals and the stamen of the flower. But it is still recognized as a fleur-de-lis. The fleur-de-lis appears in many other coats of arms and other royal or state insignia, from Bosnia to Great Britain.
What I find fascinating about the fleur-de-lis symbol is that back before France was “France,” the Franks lived in Flanders along the river Leie (think about the pronunciation and it will all start coming together). Along the banks of the river, irises grew prolifically. These irises, while not lilies, bear a striking resemblance to the fleur-de-lis. According to numerous historians and lexicographers, it is likely that the fleur-de-lis depicts an iris, not in fact a lily, despite the misnomer.
But none of this explains the close cultural association of the fleur-de-lis with French royalty. The answer to that question is veiled in mystery. It is believed that the connection stems (like that flower pun?) from the baptism lilies (because remember, historically, France was a predominantly Catholic country) used for the coronation of kings, starting with King Clovis I. The symbol is thought to have been adopted by the monarchs as a symbol of their purity and divine right to rule. By the time King Louis IX came to power, the three petals of the fleur-de-lis represented faith, wisdom, and chivalry. The fleur-de-lis was featured on the French flag, until the French Revolution. But the concept of a trinity-based theme was retained in the red, white, and blue colors in the modern-day French flag (the fleur-de-lis did make a brief reappearance in the early 1800s, but was ousted yet again in 1830).
Fleurs-de-lis also pop up frequently in contemporary culture in the United States. Several areas of the country where there was historically a strong French settlement or influence (like New Orleans for example) have fleurs-de-lis incorporated into their flags, symbols, mascots (like the NFL’s New Orleans Saints), etc. No matter where we see it, we tend to associate the fleur-de-lis with royalty, chivalry, honor, and heraldry.
If you long to capture some of that long-standing romance, consider a fleur-de-lis wedding ring for him or a fleur-de-lis wedding band for her. Timeless Wedding Bands has quite a few beauties from which to choose. To make the decision making process easier for you, I’ll show you some of my favorites.
The Phillip Fleur-De-Lis Wedding Band showcases a more minimal approach to this symbol. This more streamlined rendition of the fleur-de-lis is more closely associated with the French population in Canada, but it still brings out the beauty and understated majesty of the fleur-de-lis symbol. Phillip is available in 7mm and 8mm widths and 10k, 14k, and 18k white, yellow, and rose gold. Ladies and men will be able to equally enjoy the royal treatment with this ring.
If you want to go back to the historical roots of the royal connection, look no further than the Clovis Fleur-De-Lis Wedding Band. This ring stays true to the detail of the fleur-de-lis and showcases it on a black patinaed background. This ring is also available in two widths and a wide variety of gold karat weights and colors.
For the ultimate in wedded romance, go with the Louis Fleur-De-Lis Wedding Band. Louis has the traditional detailed fleur-de-lis carved into the gold band. Along the bottom edge of the ring is a row of petite hearts carved into the gold. The hearts and the fleurs-de-lis are patinaed to a beautiful black. The Louis is available in 7mm and 8mm widths and in 10k, 14k, and 18k white, yellow, and rose gold.
Even with the variety carried by Timeless Wedding Bands, you might have your heart set on a very specific combination of fleur-de-lis wedding ring characteristics. If that is the case, contact Timeless Wedding Bands at 844-226-8800. They will be able to customize a ring for you. That way, if you are looking for a certain kind of fleur-de-lis style with a certain kind of background in a certain karat of gold…and you just don’t see it, know that we can probably make that happen for you.
The fleur-de-lis symbol has been sweeping people off their feet for hundreds of years. With its historical ties to the French monarchy and its rich track record of symbolizing most of the things humans find most important, it’s no surprise that we would want to make jewelry that boldly shows this symbol.
Until next time,
Rebecca
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