Christmas bows
Dorcas Jamieson, founder of Lineage London, shares her expertise on ribbon motifs in antiques, and the particular charm of wall bows at Christmas
HISTORY LESSON Bows have long graced fashion and interiors. First appearing in woven ribbon in the medieval period, their flowing form soon became a decorative staple. By the 18th century, ribbon bow patterns featured in Chinoiserie textiles, furniture and art, and adorned Georgian England’s clothing, curtains and interiors. Across Europe, particularly under Louis XV, bows mingled with cornucopias, acanthus leaves, dolphins and swags, becoming central motifs in the elegance and exuberance of Rococo interior design.
MATERIAL CHOICE These bows were crafted from brass, plaster, chalkware, gilded wood or metal, with older examples often in decorated wood or toleware. Many now described as ‘wall bows’ were…
