I think that you find animals in lace when they are associated with religious subjects, for instance you might find one that is a Saint's attribute. Or you might see a horse or a donkey in some kind of religious tableau. We have a St. George and dragon piece at the museum. Also, hunting scenes were very popular and you sometimes see deer and dogs, and men on horses. Milanese often has these themes. We also have a point de france with a hunting scene that has dogs and a fox. Somewhat similarly, you may see them in the context of a lace with a mythical theme. For instance, you may see a Diana and some dogs and stags. We have a cap back in Mechlin with Orpheus surrounded by animals. Sometimes pastoral themes have shepherdesses and sheep and occasionally dogs. We have a lappet featuring a shepherdess and sheep. Birds are very popular, as are butterflies and dragon flies. I think that some of these themes were taken from Chines porcelain that was popular in the 18th century. Bees, of course, are popular on Napoleonic era lace. Even on non-Napoleonic lace animals appear if they are related to the coat of arms of some noble, or even pope, for whom the lace was made. Lace made for the Belgian royal family, a royal family that may have had a disproportionate amount of lace made for it, often has the Belgian lion. I am thinking of a beautiful veil I saw at the Museum of Art and History in Brussels that was dotted all over with lions. That is off the top of my head! Devon
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