Bearer Gallery

Siena, Italy - Contrada - Giraffa (Giraffe)

Standard bearer of the Contrada of Giraffa (Giraffe), Siena, Italy. At birth you become a member of one of the 17 Contrade (Districts) and your life revolves around your Contrada. Each contrada is named after an animal or symbol with individual (and complicated!) heraldic and semi-mythological associations and devices. The contrade race against each other in the famous horse race the Palio around the tight (and dangerous) streets of the city. Date: circa 1903

Rites of Convocation of the Holy Roman Emperor

Rites of Convocation of the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles IV recieving a messenger 1, an electoral mandate 2, the Elector of Brandenburg washing his hands in a silver bowl 3, and four silver bowls of food from the Count of Palatine 4. Rito della Convocazione. Miniatures from the Vienna Codex of the Golden Bull, an illuminated manuscript prepared for King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia, 1365. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Migliavacca from Giulio Ferrario's Costumes Ancient and Modern of the Peoples of the World, Il Costume Antico e Moderno, Florence, 1844

© Florilegius

Siena, Italy - Contrada - Selva (Wood)

Standard bearer of the Contrada of Selva (Wood), Siena, Italy. At birth you become a member of one of the 17 Contrade (Districts) and your life revolves around your Contrada. Each contrada is named after an animal or symbol with individual (and complicated!) heraldic and semi-mythological associations and devices. The contrade race against each other in the famous horse race the Palio around the tight (and dangerous) streets of the city. Date: circa 1903