For some reason I seem to collect sets of feast gear (e.g. plate, bowl, spoon, knife, drinking vessel, candlestick etc) to match my garb. I am always looking for additional ways to enhance my feasting experience. Sometimes these additions are for use at table, while others help behind the scenes.
Marchpane
Completed: October 2017
Inspiration: Southron Gaard's Variety Pentathlon Challenge and Gervase Markham's 'The English Hus-wif'
Having wanted to make marchpane for some time, but lacking the motivation, the Pentathlon Challenge proved to be the perfect excuse.
As one of the categories was 'back to basics' I began with a copy of 'The English Hus-wif', a packet of raw almonds, a packet of sugar, a bottle of rose water, a mortar and pestle and a quiet evening.
I followed the instructions (beating the ingredients to pap, kneading, rolling, washing with rose water etc) and then experimented with the shaping, baking, and icing to see what effects could be achieved.
The finished items were taken to a sewing day and added to the lunch table. Even folks who actively avoid modern marzipan agreed that it was a tasty addition to the meal.
Bottle Bag
Completed: April 2016
Inspiration: A gift of a bright blue bottle bag
As the colour of the linen bottle bag is rather reminiscent of 'Caidan Blue', I thought I would 'bling it up' a little. Add some embroidery and perhaps swap out the drawstring for something less slippery. Then I discovered the small tear, and the pulled thread...
Long story short, I am now in possession of a fully lined, hand sewn and embroidered bottle bag that can only be described as over-engineered.
The embroidery on the bag is my own design; a Caidan Cross made up of four laurel wreaths rather than crescents.
Generally speaking, I am not a fan of bottle bags as I would much rather decant the contents into a jug or period style bottle. But sometimes, a hideous PET bottle is a necessity, and a bottle bag can make it considerably less obtrusive, so they do have their place.
Lochac Enamelled Goblet
Completed: July 2007, for Midwinter Coronation
Inspiration: Adrevandini beaker, and additional heraldically decorated stemmed glasses
This pair of glasses was also completed by myself (preparation and outlining) and Meistern Christian (infill) with help from Oswyn Carolus (pattern design) on glasses supplied by Her Excellency, Baroness Southron Gaard.
These glasses were also enamelled at the request of Baroness katharine. They were required so that Their Majesties might have some suitable drinking glasses at Their Coronation Feast, which would also be available to any visiting Monarchs so that they need to not transport feast gear when visiting our fair barony.
The heraldry depicted is the populace badge of the Kingdom of Lochac. We were unable to achieve sufficient detail to include the wreath and crown due to the products, which were too thick as a result of the cold winter temperatures.
Lochac Coronation Oil Ampule
Completed: June 2007, for Midwinter Coronation
While technically not feast related, this bottle was again, completed by myself (preparation and outlining) and Meistern Christian (infill) with help from Oswyn (pattern modification) at the request of Her Excellency, Baroness Southron Gaard.
The heraldry depicted is the populace badge of the Kingdom of Lochac. The size of the bottle, combined with the thickness of the glass paints ensured we used the populace badge, as above.
Southron Gaard Enamelled Glasses (V2)
Completed: June 2007, for Midwinter Coronation
This pair of glasses was completed by myself (preparation and outlining) and Meistern Christian (infill) on glasses supplied by Her Excellency, Baroness Southron Gaard.
The text around the mouth of the bowl is "BARONY OF SOUTHRON GAARD DP AS XVII". "DP" is an abbreviation of the french word "depuis" meaning "since". Christian and I chose to include this reference to the first feast in Southron Gaard to mark the 25th anniversary of the SCA in Canterbury.
The glasses themselves proved to be a rather unique challenge for this project. The bowl is so curved on the inside that it is virtually impossible to make the pattern lie flat in order to allow accurate tracing. As the thickness of the glass also varies considerably, the pattern distortion proved highly variable around the bowl. Matters were further not helped by the wobbly bases (one of which was chipped - obviously during manufacture) which resulted in much frustration. In light of these issues much of the detail was completed relatively free hand in these and the Lochac goblets above.
Sugared Oranges
Completed: March 2004, Southron Gaard Baronial Anniversary
Orange slices preserved with sugar in the Elizabethan Manner proved to be a delicious and popular treat once judging was completed.
The recipe finally used was based on considerable experimentation around a number of period and just post period recipes. This particular treat has been made and enjoyed several times since.
Photo by Simone Hindin
Enamelled Southron Gaard Glasses
Completed: January 2004, Southron Gaard Twelfth Night
One of a pair presented to Their Excellencies, Callum and Chrettienne, Baron and Baroness Southron Gaard.
Completed by myself (outlining) and Meistern Christian (infill) this glass wine goblet is enamelled in a manner inspired by a number of Venetian glasses created and decorated during the Renaissance. It is the result of seeing far too many gorgeous enamelled glasses and fragments in various European museums.
Documentation in the form on a brochure was included with the glasses. A more web-friendly copy can be viewed here.
Photo by Sir Tycho Julso
Hous Amberherthe Enamelled Goblet
Completed: January 2004, for Southron Gaard Twelfth Night
Inspiration: the enamelled glasses on view in numerous British museums
The heraldry depicted is the badge of Hous Amberherthe.
My job was outlining the designs, but I soon got ahead of those doing infill and was able to complete the whole of my own glass.
These enamelled glasses (along with the Baronial Glasses above) were the first seen in the Barony. I am glad to say that their introduction has created something of a fashion with many people trying their hand at this particular art.
Many of these images were previously seen at http://helois.250free.com