Guillaume Brellant
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Guillaume Brellant, or Brallot, or Brayllont was a French embroiderer employed at the English royal court in the 16th century. Some English records call him "William Brellout".
Brellant came to London from Normandy in May 1524. He was licensed to establish a workshop and employ foreign craftsmen and apprentices in November 1531.[1] He worked for Henry VIII with the embroiderers William Ibgrave and Stephen Humble. The three embroiderers worked for Anne Boleyn.[2] In 1543, his workshop supplied embroidered pairs of crosses and roses, highlighted with spangles, for the uniforms of soldiers and the royal guard.[3] Spangles and oes were a kind of sequin.[4]
Brellant embroidered panels for chair which Princess Mary gave to Henry VIII in 1544 as a New Year's Day gift. He was paid £18 in February. The embroidered panels were mounted by the cabinetmaker William Green and the finished item was taken to Hampton Court.[5]
In 1547, Catherine Parr commissioned him to make hangings for her chapel, depicting the Crucifixion and the Assumption.[6] Brellant and Ibgrave worked on costume for the coronation of Edward VI. Brellant embroidered a gown, a doublet, and hose with "pirls" of damask gold and silver.[7]
His daughter Philippa married a courtier Andrew Baynton of Bromham (died 1579). His father, Edward Bayntun, was the vice-chamberlain of the household of Catherine Parr.[8][9][10][11]
Brellant was appointed embroiderer to Mary I of England by warrant in August 1553.[12] An inventory of her jewels (British Library Harley 7376) records that pearls were delivered to him to embroider her costume. With William Ibgrave, he embroidered the coats of the guard and footmen with gilt spangles supplied by the goldsmith Peter Richardson.[13] Brellant was supplied materials by Marie Wilkinson, one of the Queen's silkwomen, while working on a litter for the Queen.[14][15] Brellant was also involved in the preparations for the coronation of Elizabeth I, embroidering items with gilt spangles.[16]