Pennsic Baronial Court

In the age of Aquarius the pandemic, His Excellency Crispin and I have been actively adding to our skill set: brainstorming, story board development, scheduling, and video editing. (Usually on exceptional short notice... )  

Award of Saint Alfred - August 2020

The Award of Saint Alfred is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who have given service to the Barony.

• Source: Catalog of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library

The Award of the Saint Alfred was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

It shall be known by all that we, Crispin and Gianna, Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands wish to commend the works of Zofia der Kinder and thank her publicly for her dedication to the youth of the Barony by granting her the Award of Saint Alfred. Done this 8th day of August, Anno Societatis 55 as we shelter in our beloved lands away from the plagued battlefields and the Pennsic Wars of legend and lore.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Award of Saint Alfred II - August 2020

The Award of Saint Alfred is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who have given service to the Barony.

• Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France. Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal
• Title: Bréviaire, à l'usagedes Franciscains. — Partie d'été
• Origin: French
• Date: 1401-1500

The Award of the Saint Alfred was created on pergamenata with Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

Deserving of notice for his service as our keeper of the iron keys and demonstrations do we, Crispin and Gianna, Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands hereby commend Karl von Leipzigar and by our hands gift unto him a baronial Award of Saint Alfred. Let it be done this 8th day of August, Anno Societatis 55 while sheltering from the plagued battlefields and the Pennsic Wars.

Finished work.

 

Award of the Argent Cresset - August 2020

The Award of the Argent Cresset is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who make efforts to learn and teach the arts within the Barony.

• Source: Catalog of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library
• Title: Chronici canones
• Origin: Italy, N. E. (?Padua)
• Date: 3rd quarter of the 15th century

The Award of the Argent Cresset was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

Let it be known that we, Crispin and Gianna, Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands wish to commend one who has shown excellence in teaching & learning the arts of performance of Commedia. Therefore, we are minded to give unto Capitano Niccoló Bartolazzi our Award of the Argent Cresset. Done this 8th day of August, Anno Societatis 55 from our beloved lands as we shelter beyond the plagued battlefields and the Pennsic Wars.

Finished work.

Northern Oaken War Maneuvers Baronial Court

Northern Oaken War Maneuvers, a beloved Cleftlands tradition, is generally scheduled about a year in advance. In March, all events in the Midrealm and Society ground to a halt with little understanding of just how long activities would be suspended. As the date of our event rapidly approached, the officer corps made the decision to officially cancel NOWM and thus started our first foray into the creation of a virtual court. Special thanks to all contributors and to Sir Ulfr Forkbeard for his video editing skills.

Award of the Argent Cresset - June 2020

The Award of the Argent Cresset is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who make efforts to learn and teach the arts within the Barony.

• Source: Catalog of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library
• Title:  Psalter with Old English gloss, the Psalms preceded by a calendar and compotus material (ff. 1-12), and followed by canticles and litany (ff. 119-132v), and prayers (ff. 143-148v), specifically Arundel 60 f. 5v 'Virgo'
• Origin: England, S. ( Winchester)
• Date: 3rd quarter of the 11th century, probably after 1073

The Award of the Argent Cresset was created on pergamenata with Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

Observe the words of Crispin and Gianna, Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands. It is proper to honor those who make efforts to learn and teach the arts which enrich the splendor of our fair Barony. Therefore, we wish to recognize Noble Wrin the Red with an Award of the Argent Cresset. All my know them by their badge: fieldless, a cresset argent enflamed proper within and conjoined to an annulet estencilly gules. Done by our hands this 13th day of June AS 55 as we shelter from the plague and the battlefields of Northern Oaken War Maneuvers.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Award of the Argent Cresset II - June 2020

The Award of the Argent Cresset is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who make efforts to learn and teach the arts within the Barony.

• Source: Catalog of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library
• Title:  Psalter with Old English gloss, the Psalms preceded by a calendar and compotus material (ff. 1-12), and followed by canticles and litany (ff. 119-132v), and prayers (ff. 143-148v), specifically Arundel 60 f. 2 'Aquarius'
• Origin: England, S. ( Winchester)
• Date: 3rd quarter of the 11th century, probably after 1073

The Award of the Argent Cresset was created on pergamenata with Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

Pay heed the words of Crispin and Gianna, Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands. It is proper to honor those who make efforts to learn and teach the arts which enrich the splendor of our fair barony. Therefore, we wish to grant Lord Njall Hreggviðr an Award of the Argent Cresset and the right to bear the badge: fieldless, a cresset argent enflamed proper within and conjoined to an annulet argent estencilly gules. Done by our hands this 13th day of June AS 55 as we shelter from the plagued battlefields of Northern Oaken War Maneuvers.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Award of the Argent Cresset - October 2019

The Award of the Argent Cresset is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who make efforts to learn and teach the arts within the Barony.

• Source: Catalog of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library
• Title: Gospel Lectionary, Use of Paris ('Quatrième Évangéliaire de la Sainte-Chapelle')
• Origin: France, Central (Paris)
• Date: c. 1285-1920

The Award of the Argent Cresset was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

Draw near to hear the words of Their Excellencies Crispin and Gianna, Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands. It is proper to honor those gentles who make efforts to learn and teach the arts which enrich the splendor of our fair barony. Therefore, we recognize Jaquelinne la Deiciere as the premier recipient of our Award of the Argent Cresset of the Cleftlands. We grant the right to bear the badge: Fieldless, a cresset argent enflamed proper, within and conjoined to an annulet argent estencilly gules. Done by our hands on the fifth day of October, Anno Societatis 54 at our Standard Bearers Baronial Championships.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Pennsic War 48 Classes I Took

War this year was a mixture between personal, project, and professional time. I was able to squeeze in a small number of classes as time allowed. (I'll try to come back through and eventually write up insights on the classes, but today is not that day.)

1. Surveying Material Culture from Written Inventory - This class will explore the Last Will and Testament of Kale Pakouriane, a Byzantine *patrikia* (noblewoman) and her impressive inventory of clothing, jewelry, and household goods, within the dispersion of bequests to a variety of beneficiaries. Beneficiaries included her mother, sisters, manumitted slaves, and other household staff. We will re-live her marriage, life, closet, and wealth from her written will, and reconstructed garments will be displayed. (Instructor: Baroness Anna Dokeianina Syrakousina)
2. Slavery & Freed Persons in Rome - Slavery was a fact of life in ancient Rome, so what might a Roman persona be expected to know about it? Join us as we dispel the myths, face the facts and gain an understanding of how Roman people interacted with this challenging tradition. (Instructor: Salvia Repentina) 
3. Twelve Plants through the Ages: Year 3 - Follow twelve plants through time from Celsus to the modern day. What plants were used medicinally in period, and which of these uses have been proven by contemporary science. I am covering 12 plants this year which are different from the previous two years of plants covered by this class. This is a historical overview of uses, and does not constitute medical advice. (Instructor: Mistress Raziya Bint Rusa)
4. Justinian’s Plague and The Great Mortality - Come learn about flagellants, fleas, *tarbagans+, plague saints, and what Empress Theodora did with her three orifices. (Instructor: Baroness Slany bean Uillic)
5. Medieval Soil Amendments - Come discuss a variety of soil amendments used by medieval gardeners, and talk about why they were/are added/used from both a modern and medieval standpoint. We will try to discuss at least four soil amendments, and possibly more if time permits. (Instructor: Baroness Ellice de Valles)
6. Kick-Ass Medieval Women - We've heard it all before: Women were subjugated in the European middle ages. Haha, not quite! There will be no damsels in distress in this class! We'll survey a handful of strong women who bested their "better sex" using the sword, pen, or both. (Instructor: Baroness Anna Dokeianina Syrakousina)
7. Coronets: Interacting with Royals and Baronage (Instructor: Baroness Edan Lowery)
8. Russian Folk Demonology - Overview of the most common characters of Russian folk demonology, including household and nature spirits, diseases, werewolves, mermaids, and the undead, none of them particularly nice. (Instructor: Lady Luceta Di Cosimo)

Order of Saint Clairiel - June 2019

The Order of Saint Clairiel is an award given by the Baron and Baroness of Cleftlands to individuals who have performed minor miracles within the Barony.

• Source: Catalog of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library
• Title: Book of Hours, Use of Sarum ('The Taymouth Hours')
• Origin: England S.E. (London?)
• Date: Second quarter of the 14th century

The Order of Saint Clairiel was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and Speedball calligraphy ink. The text reads as follows:

Let one and all know that we, Crispin and Gianna, fifth baron and baroness of the Cleftlands, here induct Cadfan of Cleftlands into the Order of Saint Clairiel in recognition of the miracles he performed while facilitating the baronial history display for (the) Midrealm’s golden jubilee. Done this first day of June, A.S. fifty and four at our Northern Oaken War Maneuvers.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.