SCRIBAL ARTS

Commissions and Special Projects 

Commissions

I normally keep entries in chronological order, placing new entries at the bottom. 

I also, consider every commission an honor and always give 100% effort to all I do. 

However, I have to give Place of Pride to this commission. 

I think you will understand if you read the accompanying explanations.

The Award of the Lamb

Cynnabar Baronial Award Established by Barons Olafr and Malachy

at Cynnabar's Fall Revel - Sept A.S. 58 (2023)

to recognize entry level skill and enthusiasm for the Arts & Sciences 

in honor and remembrance of Lord Lambert Beckford.

I was approached by Baron Olafr with a request. A request that honored me beyond measure. Would I create the Premier Scroll for the Baronial Award he and Baron Malachy wanted to create as their legacy to their Barony's award system? YES PLEASE! 

Then Baron Olafr explained their idea and I was rendered speechless and tearful. The concept or the Award of the Lamb was to honor and recognize entry level participation and enthusiasm in the Barony.

I met Lord Lambert at an Arts & Sciences display at event I was stewarding. He was sitting next to a breathtaking painting. I asked if it was his. Lamber was a quiet and unassuming gentle man who came alive at my question. We had many such conversations over the next several years and sometimes at events he would come and sit with me for a while. He was an incredibly talented artist who not only preserved SCA and Cynnabar moments and people with amazingly beautiful oil paintings. but also created gorgeous tablet woven trim, floor weavings, woodworkings and carvings, and, and, and . . . Not for himself. He would make things for people and let them "find" them. If something intrigued Lord Lambert or if you asked, "do you know anything about . . . " he would proceed to find out if he didn't, then learn it and then teach . He just didn't do the "classes at events" kind of teaching. He loved learning new things.

The SCA has a long history of combat and the fighters of all kinds are much appreciated for their strength, bravery, and skill. The focus here belongs to the artisans who have been long and often overlooked and unrecognized. I believe the fiber arts folk, the seamstresses and tailors, the cooks and bakers and cheesemakers, the brewers and vintners, the blacksmiths, the herbalists, the candlemakers, carpenters, carvers, and calligraphers, etc., are the foundation of, not just the Society for Creative Anachronism  but all societies forever. "Art" is often perceived as frivolous and unnecessary. However, I say to you without hesitation that without "art" the fighters and everyone would be naked, unarmed, unheralded, unrecognized, unknown, and hungry.

The images below provide documentation for the images used on the scroll. 

Please note that lambs/sheep were present in Medieval art. They were actually abundantly present. Please believe me when I say there are many many depictions of lambs/sheep across time and place (some, I think, look more like wolves than sheep). Please note the use of squiggles and curly-cues to represent the fleece of sheep/lambs. 

Ram - End of 13th C, France. Biblia Porta Lausanne, Bibliotheqe Cantonale et Universitaire 405r

http://www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/bcul/U0964

Lamb (circa 1304-1321) Corpus Christi College Parker Library, MS 53 (The Peterborough Psalter and Bestiary, fol. 196r

https://bestiary.ca/manuscripts/manu937.htm

A Small Lamb (circa 1400-1425) Kongelige Bibliotek, GKS 1633 4° (Bestiary of Ann Walsh), folio 23r

https://bestiary.ca/manuscripts/manu94.htm

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/En-illustration-fran

Stylised image of a medieval smith from

William Caxton’s ‘Game and Play of Chess’ (1483)

https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/adams-caxton-game-and-playe-of-the-chesse-book-three

Detail of Art on Norse Chest

Chest Constructed by: Baron Aindle O’Diarmada

Art Design and Wording by: Mistress Alaina Blackram

Marriage-Related Gifts & Commissions

Commission for a 50th Wedding Anniversary

Anniversary Gift for Friends

Miscellaneous

It Takes My Child to Raze a Village Invitation

Missive of Congratulations unto Baron Angus Gove McKinnon on the occasion of his Knighting.

Invitation to North Woods' Golden Dream Celebration of 50 Years