This embroidered scene depicts the popular medieval tale of Griselda, a poor maiden who was tested long and cruelly by her noble husband and thus exemplifies ideal Christian patience. The story appeared in various forms, the best known of which is "The Clerk’s Tale" in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

Embellished textile purses in the French 14th century Purses in art Pockets as we know them today were not in use in the 14th century. People required some other conveyance for everyday items like money, a paternoster (prayer beads later known as rosaries), a small book of hours, or wax tablet and stylus. The purse, […]

Portrait and statue images of costumes dress and headwear in France in 15th century.

Bodleian Library MS. Douce 195 Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meung, Le Roman de la Rose, in a manuscript made for Louise of Savoy, mother of Francis I, with many miniatures in the style of Robinet Testard, French, late 15th century

Lancelot-Graal. 3° « L'Ystoire Lancelot du Lac », la Quête du Saint Graal, la Mort d'Arthus de « GAUTIER MOAB ». -- -- manuscrits

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« Le livre appellé Decameron, autrement le prince Galeot surnommé, qui contient cent nouvelles racomptées en dix jours par sept femmes et trois jouvenceaulx, lequel livre ja pieça compila et escripvi Jehan Boccace de Celtald en langaige florentin, et qui nagueres a esté translaté premierement en latin et secondement en françois, a Paris, a l'ostel de noble, sage et honneste homme Bureau de Dampmartin, citoien de Paris, escuier conseillier de trés puissant et trés noble prince Charles, VIe de…

ca. 1200, Millstatt Abbey (Carinthia - Austria) Kärntner Landesarchiv a couple embracingsource

Cover of a mirror box, ivory, end of the 13th century, Paris. A lady gives a sword to a knight. MRAH, Jubilee Park, Brussels.

Gothic ivory carvers produced not only many religious works but also secular pieces like this mirror case. Such ivory plaques were carved with scenes of courtly life or illustrations of fashionable romances, ca. 1300. A couple playing chess, mirror case. Français : Jeu d'échecs, valve de miroir. Date circa 1300 Medium carved ivory

Mirror case with love-scene in a garden, made in France in the late 14th century (source).

mid 15C German clay biscuit-mould depicting lady beating lover's heart on the anvil. Banderoles: He: iamerliche smerczen den ir myr dut in myme herzen [terrible pain that you do to my heart]. She: vngetruwe hercze dut man soliche smercze [such pain is done to unfaithful hearts]. via the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin website

Miniature illustrant un manuscrit du Roman de la Rose (seconde moitié du XIVe siècle), de Jean de Meung et Guillaume de Lorris. (Bibliothèque de l'Université, Valence.)

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Detail of marginal grotesques of (below) monkeys blowing horns and (above) a winged man with animal legs playing a harp; from the Maastricht Hours, Netherlands (Liège), 1st quarter of the 14th century, Stowe MS 17, f. 61v. It is a truism, although one that never ceases to surprise, that medieval...