“Lyon”/”Phrygien”  (France)

France. "Lyon" sets are called after the city Lyon, but it is not known whether the sets actually were made there. They have been produced in same period as "Directoire": from beginning 18th century till the end of it.

The very rare "Phrygien" model is sometimes seen as separate type and sometimes as a variation of the "Lyon" type. The type is named after the Knight's characteristic helmet, which would be in use at end of Louis XIV period (1715). I cannot proof that and Bishop's shape seems a bit later.

The Phrygian cap, also known as Thracian cap and liberty cap, is a soft conical cap with the apex bent over, associated in antiquity with several peoples in Eastern Europe, Anatolia and Asia. The Phrygian cap was worn by Thracians, Dacians, Persians, Medes, Scythians, Trojans, Amazons and Phrygians after whom it is named. The oldest known depiction of the Phrygian cap is from Persepolis in Iran.

The "bonnet phrygien", in French Revolution the symbol for liberty, equality and fraternity, is still a symbol of France.

Hans Czihak noted that the form of the helmet isn't quite a "bonnet phrygien". Also are the sets from a period before the French Revolution. Patrice Plain has given this name to these sets, as far as I know, but I wonder if it is a commonly accepted name for these sets?

You see "Lyon" sets which are all bone, one side bone and other wood, or all wood sets with bone decorations. I do not know of ivory "Lyon" sets.

One typical pattern is the so called "Inverted Lyon" pattern, where bodies seem upside down and Kings and Queens have bone skirts to their bellies. I think the term "Inverted Lyon" was coined by our old friend Garrick Coleman. He certainly claimed it and thought he would at least be remembered for this if nothing else.