Eleanor of Aquitaine's vase A
rock crystal vase with honeycomb decoration that probably originated from either the
Sassanid (6th–7th century) or post-Sassanid (9th–10th century) period was given to Duke
William IX of Aquitaine (the
Troubadour) by a Muslim ally (
Abd al-Malik Imad ad-Dawla, referred to in Latinised form as Mitadolus on the inscription). When William IX's granddaughter Duchess
Eleanor of Aquitaine married King
Louis VII of France in 1137, she gave him the rock crystal vase as a wedding present. The inscription finally says that the king gave it to
Suger, who in turn offered it to the saints, to be kept at the
Abbey of St.-Denis which he had rebuilt. The vase is now in the
Louvre in
Paris, and is the only artefact of Eleanor's known to exist today.
Mary I and Philip II's vase Another was a crystal and gold
posset that the Spanish ambassador gave Queen
Mary I of England and
Philip of Spain as a betrothal gift. It was made by
Benvenuto Cellini and the whole set is now on display at
Hatfield House in
England. ==Notes==