Les petits alphabets du brodeur Pl.15
1880
Édouard Guichard created this intricate 1880 plate as a pattern book for embroiderers, turning simple letters into high art. The left panel features 'Lutetia,' the ancient Roman name for Paris, depicted as a ship with fleur-de-lis sails representing the city's 1585 coat of arms. To the right, a vertical column of letters from A to F sits beside ornate monograms, including a crowned 'M' and a wreath-encircled 'N.' It’s a fascinating look at how Victorian crafters accessed high-style academic designs for their needlework.
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