Estgar Hrothcaster (Order of the Pelican)

Order of the Pelican
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

Scroll ID: Isabel C 60
Time Invested: 32'ish hours.
Completed April 1st, 2018

Thyra Eiriksdottir (Order of the Laurel)

Order of the Laurel
The Sign of the Dancing Fox X (East Kingdom)
Awarded February 3, 2018 (AS LII)

Details:
Calligraphy & Illumination by Isabel Chamberlaine. Inspired by MS Harley 2365 (Elucidarium)

Thyra is one of "MY Queens", so when asked if I would create the scroll to accompany her elevation to the Laurel I immediately replied YES! There were some notes as to what she would like, I latched onto "dangerous chemicals" and "small is better".

Paper: Random piece of parchment I had in my horde.
Materials: Mitchel calligraphy nib with Oak Gall ink; and Ruby Red Writing Ink from "Arte of the Booke". Kolner Miniatum with 23k gold leaf. Pigments - Azurite, Vermillion, Orpiment, Indigo, French Ochre, Lead White

Words by Mistress Aildreda de Tamwurthe
There is no thing in nature or kind but that a Laurel knows it, for all that she ever now or may do, she does it by the great and high power of Art. We, Tsar Ivan and Tsarina Mathilde, know Thyra's good deeds of scrollwork and dance and so she is presented here that We and Our Kingdom may have joy of her, for it is recorded that it is a great joy to Us of an artist and artisan when she is made a Laurel. And so We cause this to be done at the Sign of the Dancing Fox on the first day after Candlemas, A.S. 52.

Scroll ID: Isabel C 59
Time Invested:
Completed January 2018

Nataliia Anastasiia Evgenova Sviatoslavina vnuchka (Order of the Laurel)

Order of the Laurel
Northern Region War Camp (East Kingdom)
Awarded July 1, 2016 (AS LII)

Details:
Calligraphy & Illumination by Isabel Chamberlaine.

A while back Nataliia had helped me find my techniques for working on the Black Hours for Diego's Peerage piece; I wanted to honour that by producing one for her. This piece was very loosely inspired by the Peacock page found in the Mira Calligraphe.

Paper: Black 120gsm paper (I forget which brand).
Materials: White Dr Martin ink for the calligraphy. 23k shell gold (purchased) for the gold-work. Various W&N gouache and the occasional water soluble pencil for any of the coloured areas.

Words by Mistress Aildreda de Tamwurthe from Da Vinci's The Practice of Painting
0 poet, if you tell a story with your pen, the painter with a brush can tell it more easily, with simpler completeness and less tedious to be understood. And if you, historians, or poets, or mathematicians had not seen things with your eyes you could not report of them in writing. Indeed, you may not even enter the lists against the painter, for with only words you cannot satisfy the eye as the painter does. In those very lists, Nataliia Anastasiia Evgenova Sviatoslavina vnuchka has won honour with pen and brush.

It is fitting that We, Emperor Ioannes and Empress Honig, mark this example of a painter whose work carries out her purpose and meaning, naming her a Laurel of Our Court on the feast day of St. Gaius at Northern Region War Camp, A.S. LII.


Scroll ID: Isabel C 57
Time Invested: 25 hours
Completed June 2017

Thomas del Broc (Writ for MoD)

Writ for Master of Defense
Bhakail Investiture (East Kingdom)
Awarded June 3, 2017 (AS LII)

Details:
Calligraphy by Isabel Chamberlaine.

Paper: Random piece of parchment I had in my horde.
Materials: Mitchell nib with oak gall ink.

Words by Nataliia Anastasiia Evgenova Sviatoslavina vnuchka
Let it be known to all here assembled that Thomas del Broc is summoned this day to the Presence of Ioannes and Honig, Imperial Majesties of the august Kingdom of the East. As it is right and just we command Thomas del Broc to sit at vigil to thoroughly and completely meditate upon Our desire to elevate him to the Order of Defense. We expect that after said contemplation that he will present himself to Us at Our Court at Pennsic War to notify Us of his decision. So sayeth We, Ioannes and Honig, this third day of June, anno societatis fifty-two at Bhakail Investiture.

Scroll ID: Isabel C 58
Time Invested: 5 hours
Completed May 13, 2017