A Prie-Dieu
13th February 2026 by | Uncategorized
What Is This?
An object from The Reflection in the Mirror (1540)
A Prie-Dieu
A prie-dieu is a small piece of furniture designed specifically for private prayer. Its name comes from the French phrase priez Dieu — pray to God.
Typically made of wood, a prie-dieu consists of a padded kneeler, a small shelf to rest the hands or hold a prayer book, and sometimes a ledge for a candle or rosary. It allowed the worshipper to kneel comfortably while reading and praying, particularly during long periods of devotion.
By the early sixteenth century, prie-dieus were common in private chambers, especially among the nobility and those of means. They were places of quiet reflection, used away from the public eye of church or chapel.
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My second novel in the Murder in the Tower saga, The Wolf of Whitehall, will be published in late March 2026. The third Murder in the Tower will be published in June 2026
Gemma
The past is never silent.
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