HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-02-16, Page 31French beauty of yore won
diamond's rights for women!
You've good reason to be
grateful to a ravishing young
French beauty named Agnes
Sorel if you now own or have
high hopes of acquiring a
diamond some day.
The reason? Way hack in
1444, Agnes enterprisingly
snatched diamonds out of the
male domain and made them
fashionable and romantic for
women to wear.
It seems before Agnes, ac-
cording to the Jewelry Indus-
try, Council, diamonds were
considered strictly for mas-
e culine wear. Believing that
the diamonds' unmatched
hardness gave men extra
strength and courage, kings
and noblemen wore them
into battle. Women, with the
exception of a few liberated
royal ladies, didn't wear
them at all.
Patient plotter!
Then there was Agnes,
daughter of a poor but noble
French family. Through fam-
ily connections, she was ap-
pointed a lady-in-waiting to
the royal court of Charles VII
while still in her teens. This
was the same Charles 'for
whom Joan of Arc had fought
and died some years before.
Agnes, who idolized Joan
and Joan's quest to free
France from the English, was
attracted to the young
monarch.
While a promising beauty
even in her teens, Agnes, try
as she might, could not catch
the eye of the King, who was
constantly surrounded by
beautiful women. It took
several years—until she was
22, history reports, before
Agnes could plot a scheme to
impress Charles.
An important roydl ball
was to take place, and Agnes
was determined the King
would notice her this time.
She borrowed all the dia-
monds She could from her
male relatives, and took them
to a Parisian jeweler request-
ing that he make. them into a
dazzling necklace.
She chose a lustrous low-
cut gown that spotiighte.d her
graceful neck, creamy 'white
shoulders and comely
curves.
When young Agnes swept
ipto the ballroom, every eye
in the room was riveted on
her. The royal page an-
nounced her presence. and
when the King looked up. he
gave an appreciative smile
and beckoned her near.
Whether it was the flashing
diamonds, or the blooming
beauty of the young maiden.
Agnes caught the King's eye,
and walked into his life to
stay.
Her lovely figure. chestnut
hair, deep blue eyes and flaw-
less complexion caused him
to nickname her the court's
"Dame de Beaute" (Lady of
Beauty), and in fact, he built
an impressive palace for
her—the Chateau de Beaute
near Paris.
Through the King's influ-
ence, Agnes was elevated to
an enviable social
position—she became a
style -setter and popularized
the custom of women wear-
ing diamonds.
Not Just `pretty face'
Agnes Sorel was the first
officially recognized King's
mistress, and gained official
status because of this. Histo-
rians say. reports the Coun-
cil. that Agnes was more than
just another pretty face. Re-
memberingr the goal of her
idol, Joan of Arc—that of
pushing the British out of
Burgundy—Agnes is cred-
ited with tiding and inspiring
Charles to do just that.
She not only provided en-
courage'ment. but cold hard
cash as well. arranging loans
from important merchants to
help finance the King's ar-
mies.
While the beauteous
Agnes lived a story book
life—bearing four lovely
daughters to the King, and
remaining his favorite—she
did not as they say, "live
happily ever after."
for her beauty, fidelity and
patriotism. But women the
world over will remember
her as the girl who was the
diamond's best friend, mak-
ing diamonds fashionable for
the fair sex!
BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL Agnes Sorel made
her place in history in more ways than one, reports the
Jewelry Industry Council. Mistress of Charles VII,
Agnes Sorel not only used her charms to persuade the
King to drive the English from France, but helped win
him the backing and financing of influential mer-
chants. It was she who literally snatched the diamond
from the all-male realm to make it not only acceptable,
but high fashion for women to wear.
Legend lives on
Some scholars believe she
died in 1450, giving birth,
while others hint darkly she
was poisoned by someone.
The guilty party, or parties,
were purported to be every-
one from the King's own son,
who resented his father's
mistress usurping his
mother's place, to one of the
merchants who had loaned
the King money. The King
was so indebted to the
moneyman that Charles dis-
credited and imprisoned the
merchant to cancel his debt.
Whatever the cause of her
death. Agnes Sorel to this
day is a national heroine in
France where she is honored
Homemaking
shortcuts
A bride today, a wife to-
morrow!
When the wedding is over
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day routine. you may find
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had in mind.
"Creative Homemaking"
is a brand new booklet that
can help you through your di-
lemma. It. offers a variety of
helpful homemaking hints,
ranging from time- and
money -saving tips to suit-
case -packing advice to de- ,
corating ideas.
Page 9
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