Updating the Project

 

 I've restarted an old project of mine, a goal I had long ago, to do every Illuminated page of MS. W.016

These are pages 13 to 310.  These are placeholders for the ones I've started but not yet completed.  

PAGE 13

 PAGE 14

 PAGE 15

PAGE 16 

PAGE 17

31

33

38

39 

40 

PAGE 46

PAGE 56

126 

PAGE 148 

PAGE 308 

PAGE 309

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A new Purple Fret

 Walters Museum W 469 fol 13r.  1505

Gulf Wars

 Many years ago now, a sitting queen issued me a challenge, to do a scroll in the style of this Codex.  

At the time, I didn't feel  up to the challenge, and then I forgot...Until the inspiration for this Gulf Wars scroll struck me.  

Aryanhwy, your challenge has been completed.  I hope when I unveil it next week, it will be a worthy effort.

Some work for An Tir

I used this exemplaar for a backlog scroll for An Tir.  It wasn't intended to be a backlog, but illness and life took me from my duties to my pen.  For the delay I apologize.  

Text:  

Hear now the edict of the Sable Lions;

Know ye that we Achaxe and Octamasades; Sovereigns of An Tir do delight greatly in the rich and colorful tapestry of our lands and our peoples.

Word has reached us of one who is a bright beacon in that vibrant landscape and therefore in consideration of their exceptional skills, chivalry and service to the Crown working often unseen and yet always noticed in the traditions of An Tir, for these and many more do We by this our Charter advance Ell Winter von Stargard to the Rank and Estate of Baroness of Our Court.

 Bestowing them with all responsibilities and privileges thereto appertaining and as befits a noble of our lands.

This is so done and given in our Court on the 17th day of December Etos tis Koinonis fifty-seven and sanctified by the Great Seal of An Tir forevermore.

Project Restart

 I've restarted an old project of mine, a goal I had long ago, to do every Illuminated page of MS. W.016

These are pages 13 to 310.  These are placeholders for the ones I've started but not yet completed.  

PAGE 13

 PAGE 14

 PAGE 15

PAGE 16 

PAGE 17

31

33

38

39 

40 

PAGE 46

PAGE 56

126 

PAGE 148 

PAGE 308 

PAGE 309

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-

-

-

Research Rabbit Hole

I am leaving this resource here so I don't lose it.  I have  not yet had a chance to explore it in any depth, but it definitely looks promising.  

https://digitizedmedievalmanuscripts.org/data

It's been a minute.

 I've been doing some work for An Tir these days.  This is one I chose at random, in no particular order.  It is a Knighting scroll, as you can clearly see.  <3

I used finetec square gouache and watered it down to ink level then used a crow quill to place it on the page.  It was quite fiddly, but once I figured out the water/paint ratio it was fine.  

Mughal Laurel

 I was asked by my friends from the East, to do a Laurel scroll for an Indian persona from Akbar's time.  

Floral closeups.  

His and Hers Royal Augmentations

 I've been kind of quiet lately.  Being elevated to the Order of the Laurel during Plague-time has been interesting for me.  This is the first major assignment I have taken since I was elevated.  

Coronation after the Longest Reign in SCA History...  

These scrolls are meant to be displayed together, but each one can stand by itself if needed. 

I was inspired to create portraits of both of them, and my eye kept coming back to a Belgian Book of Hours MS M.451.  When further researched, I found that this book is titled the Van Damme Hours, which I must add made me cackle.  My floral and detail choices were deliberate.  His hem and mantle are decorated with the pattern of the tattoo's on her shoulders, for her shoulders held him up and supported him.  Likewise she reads the History of the Realm and records his deeds into the book (and the sword, don't forget the sword). The dove and the snail are just fun.  Both are shown in their finery from the winning of Crown. 

1. Roses.  Red to acknowledge their rank and the love shown t he Kingdom, Pink for friendship, Orange for passion.  Potted, to indicate that the strength of their convictions will never die.

2. Forget-me nots. Obviously.

3. Violets. Watchfullness, Faithfulness.

4. Violas- also known as Hearts Ease.  Yeah.  <3  

 

 

HIS: 

INSPIRATION:  

TEXT:  Based on Count Alberto of Tuscany’s Grant of Inheritance - 1210  I started with the Latin, intending to do it all in Latin, but I don't translate it so...I figured until I get better at it, just the salutation was sufficient.

Declara omnibus generosibus et nobilibus: Nos Ullr et Annelyse Rex et Regina Mediterranei salutamus. Greetings! The celebration of Our Coronation after the longest reign, has conviened the Great Nobles, Peers of the Realm and any others who will bear true testimony wence. We decree that we have found Nobility in Felix the Just of Ramsey, by virtue of his service as Ruler uniting the kingdom under the banner we now carry. He has proven that he holds the good of the Midrealm above all else and as such is granted a Kingdom Augmentation of Arms accompanied with every right, honor and duty. He may charge his arms thus: A pale gules overall a dragon passant vert. Knowing that all these things said here are valid by law and edict, they shall be recorded by Our Heralds on this 25th day of September Anno Societatis 56.

 

HERS: 

INSPIRATION: 

TEXT:  

Declara omnibus generosibus et nobilibus: Nos Ullr et Annelyse Rex et Regina Mediterranei salutamus. Greetings! The celebration of Our Coronation after the longest reign, has conviened the Great Nobles, Peers of the Realm and any others who will bear true testimony wence. We decree that we have found Nobility in Madeleina de La Mans, by virtue of her dignity and grace beneath the burden of the Crown. She has proven that she lives to serve this Kingdom and loves this Kingdom and its people. As such, She is granted a Kingdom Augmentation of Arms accompanied with every right, honor and duty and may charge her arms thus: A pale gules overall a dragon passant vert. Knowing that all these said things are valid by law and edict, they shall be recorded by Our Heralds on this 25th day of September Anno Societatis 56.

Multiple pages from the same Manuscript.

 This is one of my favorite manuscripts to work from.

MS W.16

 There's fun patterns, and lovable bits of whimsy to be added if you want to.  It has something for everyone.  

Watch this space for more.

Royal University of the Midrealm

 I was asked by the Royal University of the Midrealm, to make a template from which Degrees and Honors could be given out from the Dean(s).  

Meyer, Friedrich, Büchsenmeister- und Feuerwerksbuch - BSB Cgm 8143, [S.l.], 1594 [BSB-Hss Cgm 8143]  pg 156

I rather like the calligraphic hand here, but I certainly need more practice.  I do like the outcome however, and I was not unhappy enough with it to not send it to the Chancellor.  

Generic RUM Degree.

The effects of Corona

 This blog has set quiet for some time, in the advent of Coronavirus. That and having a toddler did take my time away from the SCA in more and more interesting ways. 

In that time I was put on Vigil (At Tree Girt Sea's 12th Night) and Elevated to the Order of the Laurel in C&I, in the Ethereal Court.

 

VIGIL:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvoJkpmj6ns&t=115s

 

 ELEVATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OuMjuyuO8o&list=PLqb24fT8u8LoUVRyKWjNA7he27rOeRgc5&index=3

 

I have not set idly by my lovelies. More to come and soon. 

Blank for Drachenwald

Petit Livre d'Amour attributed to the Master of the Chronique scandaleuse Pierre Sala 16th ce.
Stowe 955 fol 13v


I wanted a use for my new scarlet paper to test how good it is.  It's nice, takes paint well, but it also picks up fingerprints.  Whoever gets this blank, has a Saraswati thumbprint too.  Whoopsie.  I went through my 'colored parchment' collection and found this, which is simple but striking.  I haven't tried yet to dye parchment or perg to color, but I might have a go at it with some of the exemplaars that I have. 

Garbspiration

I promised a blog post about the things that are inspiring me persona wise that I am working on.  Its a massive rabbit hole and I love that India had this incredible variety.  Here they are in no particular order.

This is from the Akbarnama, a text from 1585.  You'll notice a number of very different clothing styles here, indicating differing points of origin for the women in the painting.  I am most fascinated with the woman in the green and purple, bending over offering a cup to the noble lady and the one in blue and red at the bottom possibly playing a drum.

I love the embroidered breast band and belt in these photographs of a sculpture.  I say embroidered, but it is more than possible that it would have been painted and then beaded on top of instead of embroidered.  This appears to be three layers of belt with the beaded clasp portion on the top.  The 'pretty' bit looks to only be in the front, as the back is flat and has no embellishments cut into the stone.  The sculpture is dated to 1400, and is probably a diety.  Though the sculpture itself is missing some of the decoration that would indicate a goddess (The shoulder panels and intricate headdress)

The above images are from Additional MS 16880  Pen Nem.  A Dakani poem about Shahji and Mahji, by Hasan Manjhu Khalji who wrote under the pen-name of Hans and either completed or commenced the composition of this poem in 1009 AH, i.e., 1600-1601 AD

Another figure with the breast band and decoration.

This is a celestial beauty an aspara.  A very minor diety, 8th century. I love the simplicity of her garmets and decorations.  and i wonder if she was holding a fly whisk or a fan.

Hebrew Scroll

 

Additional 19776 f. 72 Germany, Central (Coburg) 1390-1396.  This text is written in hebrew.  I had started this as a blank ages ago but I had never finished it.  I didn't know what to do with it so it had never gotten finished.   When I got asked if I had any scrolls for Jewish personas, I was thrilled to use this source.  

The text is based on the song: Eishes Chayil which is traditionally sung by husbands to their wives on Shabbat.

Far beyond pearls is her value, our soverigns trust in her and the Midrealm shall lack no fortune.  Caryn of Cynnabar is her name.  She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tonuge.  Her friends in Cynnabar do rise and celebrate her: Many daughters have attained valor but you have surpassed them all.  False is Grace and vain  is beauty and a G-d fearing woman she should be praised.  So do we Akos and Bella Praise her.  Give her the fruit of her hands and Arms upon her brow and let her be praised at the gates by her own deeds. 

(HEBREW) Blessed are You- G-d out L-rd King of the Universe for having made me according to His will.  

And thus is it written into the record that upon this our coronation day being the 29th day of September in the year of our Society 53 that we make unto Caryn of Cynnabar an Award of Arms.  In witness thereof we do place the character of the Royal Name. 

Heather Hall Laurel

When I heard that Heather Hall was going to be laureled for her cards and gaming expertise, I had to bite my tongue so as not to immediately volunteer to do her scroll.  I had no idea if she'd had someone in mind for her scrollage, and I didn't want to step on anyone's toes.  When I asked her later on who she had doing her scroll and she said 'noone'  I was like 'mine!'  I'd had an idea from the beginning to make her a tarot card.  I'd wanted to since I saw the first of the tarot cards at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library- and I'd downloaded each and every single one.   They're so shiny!  So I'd decided that I would make her a tarot card, since they remain some of the most recognizable cards of the time.  I went through every available card in the Visconti Deck, Cary-Yale pack 1428-1447.  I chose that deck because unlike other decks it features females in all the traditional roles beside the male card of the same role. Obviously it had to be an arcana card in this case- though I can find uses for many of the others- the coins suit seems particularly suited for awards.  I ended up choosing the female knight of coins, because it had the most available space within its art to put text.  I particularly loved the doves, and turned them into laurel wreaths as befits Heather.

I forgot to take a picture of the penciled in initial drawing.  

In the above picture- the gilding is only flat.  I flatgilded it first and then dabbed on gesso overtop of it in order to make the raised areas, before applying my size to the raised areas and laying gold again.  I found polishing it took the gold off my Gesso for some reason (possibly because it was so terribly humid when I was doing the gilding-no choice there) so I left it alone and didn't polish it. 

 

The rest was done in gouache, and in between each layer of paint I had to let it dry completely and squash it under a book to try to mitigate the curling.  It didn't work adequately, but it's better than it was before I pressed it. 

The coin reads: Cellach Regis Mediterranei.
The cloak scrolls read:  Heather M Hall Ordinem Laurea Fit. 
The box at the bottom 3, 31, 52

 And the lovely Magestra Heather Hall and all her accoutrements. 

Rhonwen's Kings Chalice

I've only ever done one Kings Chalice before I was offered the chance to do this one.  They are given for dedication and research into one's persona.  Rhonwen was getting one for her study of Wales, so the exemplaar had to be both Welsh and simple enough to get done in under a week.  

 This source is a Welsh Grammatical text, and honestly my favorite part of this manuscript is not the whimsical little circles but the full alphabet in the text itself.  It is housed in Oxford's Jesus College and is MS 15, pg 5. 

So the book didn't have an M capital, so I just turned the B on its side, and used that.   I hadn't quite cleaned out my nib well enough even though I used a toothbrush...so the red isn't as vibrant as it aught to be, but I do kind of like the effect. 



ENGLISH: 

Listen to the words of Cellach, king of England and Vukasin with his hand, the queen.

It is the right and privledge of the monarch to reward excellence in the study and portrayal of personas.

We have long admired the dedication of Rhonwen merch Alun in her study of Wales.

It is our pleasure then to award Rhonwen merch Alun a king's chalice. 

Tell all, far and wide that she is worthy of this honor, and let it be written by our scribe this 15th day of March in the year 52 as we contest at Gulf Wars.


WELSH:

Gwrandewch ar eiriau Cellach, brenin y tiroedd canol a Vukasin gyda'i law, y frenhines.

Mae'n iawn a llawenydd y frenhiniaeth i wobrwyo rhagoriaeth yn yr astudiaeth a phortread o bobl.

Rydym wedi edmygu'n hir ymroddiad Rhonwen merch Alun yn ei hastudiaeth o Gymru.

Rydym wrth ein bodd i gael merch Rhonwen, Alun, i ddyfarnu gwydr y Brenin.

Dywedwch wrth bawb, ymhell ac eang ei bod hi'n haeddu yr anrhydedd hwn, a gadewch iddo gael ei ysgrifennu gan ein ysgrifennydd y 15fed o Fawrth hwn ym mlwyddyn    52 wrth i ni ymladd yn Rhyfel y Gwlff.

Catching up.

Renaissance tiles at Monte Palace Tropical Gardens in Funchal, Madeira Portugal

Callig'd by my Sisterminion Mistress Ailitha- Drachenwald

 Calliged by Master Wilhelm-Midrealm

 Callig'd by Ari- Drachenwald