Last Court of Ivan & Matilde (East Kingdom)
Awarded April 7, 2018 (AS LII)
Details:
Calligraphy & Illumination by Isabel Chamberlaine, and helped by Titivillus, the patron demon of scribes. Inspired by f.30v and f.31r of The Vespasian Psalter (Cotton MS Vespasian A I) housed by the British Library.
As I sat there staring at the extant example I wondered what chemical reaction could be causing the blackening on some of the gilded letters. My immediate initial thought is that it's gilded in silver and has tarnished, but, when I look closely my eyes see gold so maybe I'm wrong. Another thought is that maybe one of the colours is reacting with something. I know, I'll start a discussion with Kenric, he'll geek out with me...
That hit me like I'd raced into a brick wall.
Time to not be lazy and do some actual research. As it turns out the Vespasian Psalter is rather well researched; part of the description for the manuscript by the British Library states "[...] Psalm 17.- f. 31r: historiated initial, depicting David and his friend Jonathon, who stand holding spears and shaking hands; continuation letting alternating in silver and gold, on horizontally striped coloured background; [...]". Okay, so my initial thought was correct and it is tarnished silver.
Then the back-and-forth in my head began.
Good-Self: I guess I need to buy some 12k gold to mimic the silver.
Geek-Self: But wouldn't it be cool to use ACTUAL silver-leaf and let it blacken over time?
Good-Self: But, but, it'll ruin itself! No one wants a scroll on their wall that will end up tarnished and ugly looking!
Geek-Self: But this is Angus (Estgar), he would dig it for the science!
Good-Self: NO ONE WANTS A PIECE OF ART THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LOOK BAD!
Geek-Self: BUT ITS ANGUS! He GETS "period".
Good-Self: I need permission...
The silver is REAL silver leaf. It will blacken over time.
Estgar (he'll always be Angus Pembridge to me) is the very first person we had contact with in the SCA. He was Baron of Concordia at the time and agreed to meet us at their local fighter practice one Monday night. From that point on he basically adopted us, encouraged us, promoted us, and over time we became incredibly good friends. He wasn't the only one, but he is one that is very special to us. This is the man who picked me up off the floor of my own Vigil tent, talked me down from my overwhelming emotions, and told me that I deserved the recognition.
There was no way I was going to say no to this assignment.
I feel incredibly lucky to have worked on this project for him, and I was privileged to have worked with two amazing women; Anelaida, and Dreda. Thank you, ladies.
Paper: Random piece of parchment I had in my horde. Although it feels and acts like one of JP's skins.
Materials: Mitchel calligraphy nibs #4 and #6 with Oak Gall ink (homemade); Ruby Red Writing Ink from "Arte of the Booke". Fish glue/glair mixture for the size; 23k gold leaf; real silver leaf. Pigments - 23k Shell Gold, Red-lead, Cinnabar, Verdigris (homemade), Green Earth, Sap Green (homemade), Sap Yellow (homemade), Orpiment, Yellow Ochre, Brown Earth, Woad, Lead-white.
Words written by Mistress Anelaida Falconbridge.
Main text is in Latin; translation and edits by Mistress Anelaida Falconbridge and Master Steffan ap Kennydd.
LIII AS VII Apr
DNSILLUMINATIOMEA
Omnibus paribus nobilibus et gentilibus
Vocem populi audimus. Vobis damus
secundum postulationem Ordinis Pelicani
nostrum fidelissimum Estgar de Hroficester.
Rectus et fortis est et propensus omnes
juvare. Construxit multas vias, conservit
pacem, servavit populum. Intellegunt opera
Estgari et opera manuum. Hic vir bonus est.
Desiderabilia super aurum et lapidem
pretiosum multum et dulciora
super mel et favum redundantem.
Damus secundum sua opera.
Reddimus ad Estgarum commodum justum.
Dignitatem agnoscimus nostri Estgari
apud aulam nostram in Scira Quintaviae.
Bagnum est nomen in multis terris.
Pelicanus est.
Ego Ivanus rex Orientis consensi et subscripsi
Ego Matilda regina Orientis consensi et subscripsi
Inter-linear text is in Anglo-Saxon; translation by Mistress Aildreda de Tamwurthe
eall efenhadas ealdorduguþe ond þegnes
spræce folca gehierdan
þe geandweardian þæs þe giwunige munucregoles pellicanes urum mæst getreowfullas Estgar æt Hrofeceastre
uplange ond stranglice is hie ond willende ealle ahelpan
asatt manige stræte freoðiodon þeowiodon folcas
oncnawað weorcas Estgar ond weorcas honda
hie mann godan is
deorwyrðlice ma goldum ond eorcnanstamum manigum ond swete ma hunige ond hunigcambe yþgiende
geandweardian þæs þe sinum weorcum
gelianian to Estgar earnung rihtlic
gerisenum cnaweþ ures Estgar wið æðelduguþa in Scirum Quintavium
geþungen is sin name in maniges eardas
pellican is hie
ich Ivan Cyning Eastrices geþwærlæce ond underwrite
ich Matilde Cyninge Eastrices geþwærlæce ond underwrite
Time Invested: 32'ish hours.
Completed April 1st, 2018
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