Rare Italian 17th Century Coat-of-arms/crest Pillow #1

Rare 17th century Italian coat-of-arms/crest featuring a lion’s paw with four pads and claws. This crest is more than likely a coat-of-arms for a knight since the lion traditionally symbolizes bravery, valor, strength, and royalty. The white ground it’s upon represents peace and sincerity, the blue truth and loyalty and the red means warrior or military strength. This crest is unique in the fact that the blue area is colored metal threads. The banner above has the initials ST GS and represents a reward for valiant service. The crest is hand couched/sewn on light taupe colored designer silk velvet. Edged with an 18th century gold metal thread and silk galon/trim, with an 18th century metal fringe that has patina. Finished off with a 19th century German copper colored cording around the edges and all down insert.  

Condition: The white silk ground has light soiling but nothing that deters from its beauty. The banner is missing some metal threads from the ends all that is consistent with age.   

Further History: Coats of arms, first used by knights, are typically simple in design. They were established in the Middle Ages to identify a warrior when in full armor. When the warrior died the crest was often passed down to a son or son-in-law with some design variation and then re-registered for a single person but not family. Crests are never family crests. Crests are typically from nobility and high-ranking priests and are notable for their crowns and much ornamentation. Crests for Barons have crowns but are typically simple 3-pointed crowns.