Coeur de Lion featuring Linea
In Twelfth Century England, the figure of King Richard I and the Crusaders provided the sort of dramatic arch we only experience in fiction. Known as the 'Lion Hearted' for bravery in battle, Richard I was of the regal class that could enjoy the lavish imported jewelry in fashion at the time. Class structure was so rigid in medieval days that soon after Richard's era, laws dictated who was permitted to wear specific styles of jewelry. There is no need to exaggerate Richard I's life; he befriended his most feared opponent Saladin during the Holy Wars, was betrayed by his brothers, and was imprisoned for two years by the Holy Roman Emperor. His character has been the represented in at least 20 works of fiction and film, and reminds us to imagine the ornate aesthetic of old chivalry.more...