CHAPTER II

THE BURGUNDIAN PERIOD 31–62

The luxurious Dukes of Burgundy—Possessions of the House of Burgundy—The Burgundian Court—Household of Philip the Good—the Feast of the Pheasant—the Duke of Burgundy at the Coronation of Louis XI—Arras Tapestries—Sumptuous _Dressoirs_ and their Adornments—Celebrations in honour of the Knights of the Golden Fleece—Luxury of Charles the Bold—Charles the Bold at Trèves—Furnishings of the Abbey of Saint-Maximin—Charles the Bold’s Second Marriage— Furnishings of the Banqueting Hall at Bruges—Descriptions by Olivier de la Marche—Aliénor of Poitiers’ Descriptions of the Furniture of the Duchess of Burgundy’s Apartments— Rich _Dressoirs_—the _Drageoir_ and its Etiquette—the Etiquette of the _Escarbeau_—Philip the Bold’s Artisans— Flemish Carving—the _Forme_ or _Banc_—Burgundian Workmanship—Ecclesiastical Work—Noted Carvers—Furniture of the Period—the “Golden Age of Tapestry”—Embroideries— Tapestry-weavers of the Low Countries—Introduction of Italian Cartoons—Goldsmiths’ Work—Furniture of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries.