Links mostly for my own use...
( links )

I've been doing A LOT of online research the past week or so and some of it I just HAVE to share and some I am recording for my own later use.

Viking Hoard, including some interesting "buttons" and associated silks in Dunmore, County Kilkenny - Info here, here, and here. Sadly, limited info for now. However, since it is not related to the current question, I'll have to chase down more info later. (Note to self: Medieval Clothing and Textiles 2, Netherton and Owen Crocker page 30 has citations for these items.
I have found some neat stuff while cleaning out my storage spaces, but not a Viking sword!

There are some really neat finds from the Old Scatness Broch - I just with they had more info online! Related research - including Orkney, Shetland, Faroe islands.

A newly-discovered cache of saint's relics in a portable altar. Very cool.

A living Luttrell Psalter video.

And an online gallery of manuscripts at the Philadelphia Library

As if the Tudor Tailor was not tasty enough, they have come out with a second book - The King's Servants - a book on men's clothing at the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. Drool. Not to be published until June, dammit.

And two print sources:

I found a new citation for the Trewiddle Horde - David M. Wilson, Catalogue of Antiquities of the Later Saxon Period (London: British Museum Publications, 1964), no. 91. Does anybody have that by any chance?

Plus a similar technique used as a garment edging in 189 James Graham-Campbell, "Tenth-century Graves: The Viking-age Artefacts and their Significance," in Excavations on St. Patrick's Isle, Peel, Isle of Man. Can I just declare my love for Mr. Graham-Campbell right now and be done with it. The man puts out some particularly tasty books and articles, I'm just saying...

It's been a good week for digitized books. This time we have the Islamic manuscript collections from Princeton.

I thought this might be of general interest - the Edinburgh University Press has all their online journal content available for free download through the end of February. Happiness.

Well, the first half of my day was damned productive. I got up early (well, early for me on a Saturday at least) and went to the bank, the copy shop, the post office, a bead store, a fabric store (yay for tuned up machines!), a fossil shop and two libraries, all before 5PM!

Those of you who have been promised Twelfth Night prezzies, articles, drug information, patterns, fabric samples, etc, they are now en route. (Well, except for yours, swords_and_pens , that should go out on Monday.) The stack of boxes and envelopes was actually pretty impressive - the postal worker looked a little dismayed when I came through the door at 15 minutes to close, but I had all my affairs in order and was out of there with a few minutes to close.

Since the first part of my morning was so efficient, I indulged in some research time at the library. I was originally only slated for a book drop off, but ended up spending nearly two and a half hours there. It was worth it, though - I had all kinds of research win and now have a nice stack of books to peruse, including some on Italian fabrics (*nugde, nudge* ego_id_non_feci ) and some tasty items from the York Archaeology series and some others on Celtic/Norse jewelry and textiles. Nummy.

However, there was a whole lot less win with my first weaving project. mightyjesse  was a good teacher, but things were just not going well for me. :/ Perhaps on Tuesday, when I am not already exhausted from the day and warping the damned thing, I'll have better luck. *sigh* Now I'm exhausted and cold and so headed off to bed.

Bright and early on Friday morning, cass_lee  showed up at my house to head to Minot for Crown Tourney. I was even mostly ready, save feeding the birdies and collecting my electronics that had been charging overnight. Sadly, I did NOT have the car packed to the gills with linen - the order never came! I contacted the warehouse today and should have an answer soon. Once hopes they do not simply misplace 500 yards of linen! I managed to be good company for a few hours before getting a little nap. I am not a morning person and early morning car ride = sleepy Eithni. The trip out was essentially unremarkable except for our stop at the Perkins of Fail. We stopped for dinner at Perkins in Jamestown, ND and discovered that their WiFi was defective, their ladies' room had plumbing issues, the waiter had SERIOUS B.O., and the roast beef was an iridescent green. Luckily, cass_lee  noticed before either of us had eaten much. (I'd had one piece, she'd had none.) The manager replaced the roast beef dinners with whatever we wanted - she ordered a pasta bowl, but they were temporarily out of the pot pies that were my second choice, so I ended up with a plate of fried mozzarella sticks for dinner. I figured something deep fried ought to be pretty safe and I'd been craving melty cheesy goodness anyway. We got into Minot around 9:30, got checked into the hotel, and then cass_lee  got ready for bed while I went to investigate whether there was any trouble to be gotten into. Sadly, we were at the Super 8 and most of the other folks were at the Holiday Inn, so there was no trouble to be had. My bedside lamp was bright enough cass_lee  could not sleep with it on, so I couldn't read in bed either, until I remembered that I had downloaded The Complete Works of William Shakespeare onto my dorkPhone. dorkPhone FTW! Somewhere around midnight I turned it off and went to sleep since we had to be up tragically early on Saturday.

Saturday indeed came early, but we had Perkins' muffins for breakfast and then headed out. Sadly, the MapQuest directions cass_lee  had downloaded bore no resemblance to reality and we ended up staring at some residential homes when it told us we were at our destination. dorkPhone again to the rescue! It got us to the site, but we did not immediately recognize it since, for some odd reason, the directions brought us to the back of the building. However, upon checking the name of the site, we quickly were able to recover and get inside. Then there was a flurry of prep work to complete, a run off-site for some essentials, and a quick polish of the crowns, which were in an appalling state. So, when morning court started, I was still in my mundanes, covered in metal polish and tarnish goo. Nummy. Oh well, His Majesty had been a big fat meanie and said I couldn't carry the axe anyway. ;P I quickly got cleaned up, dressed, and was on hand by the time any run-and-fetch-it services were needed, so we were just fine. I don't think I missed more than the Fealties, anyway. After the presentations, I spent a little time schmoozing with folks, delivering the items I had to give/return to folks, and apologizing to the folks who were expecting linen. Luckily, only one person from the West had ordered linen, so I'll send her share via SCA mail at some point (probably Rythym and Bruise) and the rest of the folks will be at or have representatives at Clothiers.

Then I checked in with cass_lee  and when she did not require any immediate assistance, set up my Evil Web. I was gratified to catch my first victi... er... student quite quickly and then spent the rest of the day teaching a series of people how to do whipcording. There were even a few people who asked about it after I had cut down my web and I simply sent home with a kit, but now there is an online tutorial for folks to use, even if they have not gotten an in-person lesson! Squee! Geekage! The rest of the day, except for an unfortunate interlude, was happily spent schmoozing, geeking, and trying to help out.

But, back to the purpose of the day! My attention was not on all of the bouts, especially the early ones or the ones when I had a shiny new student, but I did try to pay attention if Roisin or Stephen were fighting. As we got toward the end, I yielded to more geeky impulses and posted updates on the Northshield and Jara Halls from the dorkPhone. Therefore, I was able to announce the results of the finals before the crowns were on TRH's heads. :) Vivant to TRH Stephen and Ailleanne! It will be a busy year in Jara!

One of my most important tasks of the event was to make a presentation in Court. My lovely and wonderful foster-apprentice mightyjesse  had worked on a few projects for goldfrog  but could not be at the event and could not wait to have them presented. TRM's allowed me into court, giant grin and all, and I explained that as a Laurel, I felt I should teach my apprenti to support the Kingdom with their Arts - whereupon I happily presented goldfrog  with a bar of homemade soap that mightyjesse  made, including a wool baggie to be used as an abrasive scrubby. (The joke here being that goldfrog gets her own weight in soap over the course of a reign and really doesn't need another bar.) goldfrog  was gracious, but suspicious, since she knows that I am full aware of the volume of soap she recieves, so I continued to explain that, while a Queen is rarely stinky, she very often needs to be clothed, and presented the Viking gown I had concealed behind my back under my brat. *grin* The splendidness of mightyjesse 's work was displayed and I explained to the crowd that the dress was handsewn and hand embellished with linen, that that fabric itself was handwoven and the weft handspun. The crowd and HrRM were suitably impressed. :)




There are more photos of the presentation on the Northshield Gallery or at mightyjesse 's entry.

After all the meetings and court, the idea was that I would find some folks to go out to dinner with while feast went on, since I did not get feast. As it was, the couch in the Royalty Room was calling my name and I had a little nappy-nap instead. After feast, we packed up TRM's stuff, Roisin threw some of her stuff into my car, and I took cass_lee  back to the hotel. She was beat, but I, feeling better after my nap, went out to the Holiday Inn to postrevel. I had misunderstood the location of the hotel - I thought I had seen the State Fair Grounds on the way into town, but I had actually seen the State Fair OFFICES, with no Holiday Inn in sight. So I stopped by the site again to get better directions, which were indeed obtained, but then had the everliving crap scared out of me as I tried to leave. You know how when you reach for a door and it suddenly swings open just as your hand should hit it and you are surprised when there is someone there? Now imagine being a little on the tired side and it being a back-lit ingusmoen  on the other side of the door. Yipes! ;) It was funny as soon as my heart stopped going 4,000 beats per minute!

The Postrevel was good. Very good, actually. :) I had brought a bottle of good Scotch, I got to spend casual time with TRM, I got to hang out with a lot of my favorite people (including some I see quite rarely), I got to engage in some truly geeky conversations about the Picts and assorted other research topics, and otherwise had a jolly good time. There was a little bit of mystifying drama at the end of the night too, but overall, the postrevel was, I think, a splendid win. We'll see what comes of the various conversations and contacts, but - if nothing else - I think there will be good fun and geeking as a dividend.

Sunday came altogether too soon, even though I was in bed and sleep at a reasonably respectable hour, cass_lee  wanted to leave early and we did, but we fought snow and wind and other yuck for much of North Dakota. Minnesota was better and by the time we crossed the Wisconsin state border, the weather was downright lovely. The colors of the fall foliage and the nice warm breezes were a welcome change from the sleet and dark we left in Minot. :P

Monday, by some happy accident, I had off from work. I usually do not work Fridays, but my coworker needed this Friday off, so I offered to trade. I got a recovery day, she got her needed day off, we both got a four day weekend - wins all around! I spent the day sleeping in, reading in bed, taking an appallingly long shower, reading in bed, sewing my mom's Christmas present (which took entirely longer than it ought to have, ugh!), catching up on email, watching the Daily Show/Colbert Report, posting here, and soon I'll be to bed for one last round of reading in bed before going to sleep at a decent hour.

A very long, but lovely four days! 

So, something was bothering me about the 35th Anniversary event and I could not quite put my finger on it... And then iarroganti commented that he had heard some people discussing the event on their way out the door and that they had never learned so much at an event. Suddenly I realized what the problem was - a teaching event and I didn't teach a blessed thing all day long. I certainly had plenty else on my plate and I did indeed enjoy the classes I did take, but it still felt odd...

It is sort of strange, but I think one of my most favorite things about the SCA is the endless opportunities to learn something... and then teach it to other people. I think that is one of the reasons I have never felt strongly attracted to other more specific reenactment organizations - I am a quality authenticity wonk, but the 1000+ years of our "period" allows for endless research possibilities and the opportunity to experiment with new challenges while still retaining a focus on my primary period of interest.

I enjoy knowledge for knowledge's sake, but there is something even more appealing about purposeful knowledge, which is why I think the majority of my classes are hands-on and/or practical classes. I do teach a few theory or history classes, but those are generally aimed at sucking people into delightful Pictish pursuits, so there is an ulterior motive there. And that, I think, is the core of the appeal. I love to suck people into a subject, to see that light go on in their eyes and their fingers start to twitch to try it, to seem them grasp the possibilities and the joy of the subject. It doesn't matter if I am playing with ego_id_non_feci's monsters, or teaching at an event, presenting at an academic conference, educating medical staff, or speaking to elderly folks, whether it is to a single person or an audience of dozens, I am rarely as happy as when I'm teaching...

I don't think I really have a point here, just nattering on - I have known for a long time that I enjoyed teaching, this weekend just underscored that for me....

While in Boston, I absolutely fell in love with a portrait in the Isabella Stuart Gardner Gallery. We had seen any number of really beautiful items, but this one simple blew me away. I stopped dead and stared at it, I lusted after the gown and cursed that the museum did not allow photography. Once we got the to gift shop, I further cursed that there was not a single good picture of the painting in any of the guidebooks or postcards. Tragedy!

They did, however, have pictures of one of my other favorite pieces of the collection, Juana of Austria with a young girl by Sofonisba Anguissola.



I had seen Sofonisba's work before and had been interested to learn more about her.

I got a little derailed reading A Perfect Red and Moda a Firenze, but before long had several books on Sofonisba from the library. Ironically, reading Moda and Red first were helpful, as they helped me understand and appreciate some of the details in Sofonisba's work and understand the general time and place where she grew up.

Sofonisba was born in Cremona around 1532. As the daughter of a nobleman, being allowed to be educated as and work as a professional painter were somewhat unusual. However, she was quite talented, so these studies paid off and she was able to study under Campi, Gatti, and even (to some small extent) Michaelangelo. She came to specialize in detailed, intimate portraits, including self portraits and many of her immediate family.


The Chess Game (Check out those dresses! See why I love her?)

The new icon (see above) is also of Sofonisba, in one of my favorite of her self-portraits. I really am tempted to make her outfit... Also, I recently discovered that my hair is finally long enough to wear in such a style again (braided, then looped up around the top of the head). Happiness. :)

In 1559, Sofonisba was invited to come to Spain to be one of the court painters. There she befriended the newly arrived queen, Elizabeth of Valois and eventually the Infantas Isabella Clara Eugenia and Catalina Micaela.


Portrait of Queen Elizabeth by Sofonisba


Portrait of the Infantas by Sofonisba

Sadly, the Queen died young. Sofonisba stayed in the Spanish Court for some time, as painter and governess to the girls, but eventually the King of Spain arranged a marriage for her to a son of the Prince of Paterno. She was 38 or so at the time of this first marriage, quite old for a first time bride! While it seemed to be a reasonably happy marriage, she outlived him to marry again (at the age of 47!) to Orazio, who was to be the love of her life. They settled together back in Italy where, against all the odds, she happily painted and lived with her husband for nearly another fifty years.

Toward the end of her life (1623), she was visited by the young artist Van Dyke, who drew and painted her on several occasions and took notes on her recommendations for said works. Having recently been in contact with the Archduchess of Austria, he could have been bringing her letters and greetings on his visit as well, but that information is not actually recorded anywhere. Sofonisba died in 1625, aged 93 years.


Self portrait from 1610, about 80 years old

On the 100th anniversary of her birth, her husband placed an her tomb a commemorative stone that reads, in part:

"To Sofonisba, my wife...who is recorded among the illustrious women of the world, outstanding in portraying the images of man... Orazio Lomellino, in sorrow for the loss of his great love, in 1632, dedicated this little tribute to such a great woman."





Oh, and the name of that Archduchess of Austria? Isabella Clara Eugenia, the little Infanta Sofonisba knew as a child and the beautiful lady whose portrait so enchanted me at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Gallery in Boston.



Isabella Clara Eugenia, Archduchess of Austria (1566-1633), c.1598
Frans Pourbus II
Oil on canvas, 134.9 x 98.2 cm 
© Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

My thanks to the wonderful folks at the museum who were so kind as to send me a *huge* scan of the beautiful portrait, so that I may study it in greater detail.

I was organizing some of my notes from my trip out East and ran across my notes for my discussion with Cariadoc of the Bow. The notes included, in part, some information about Anglo-Saxon lyres. Since I know that eyja at least is looking at that topic, I thought I'd post and share what I had.

Trossingen Lyre
   Cariadoc of the Bow's article on making a Lyre, including info from the Trossingen Lyre
   Germania article about the Trossingen Lyre, sadly in German, but apparently very good
         Barbara Theune-Großkopf, "Die Vollständig erhaltene Leier des 6. Jahrhunderts aus Grab 58 von Tossingen, Ladkr. Tuttlingen,
                 Baden-Württemberg," Germania 84, 2006.
   Some pictures of the lyre
   More plans on how to make a lyre, plus video on how to play it

Prittlewell Lyre
   Pretty pictures
  
And some info from Thora Sharptooth.