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Medieval Cooking
Medieval food wasn't all gruel and turnips! Get a glimpse into Medieval Cuisine at our demonstration kitchen where we tackle actual recipes from the days of yore. Catch the aroma of roasting fruits and meats, fresh baked bread, fried delicacies and pottages. Maybe even a turnip or two.
Glass Beadmaking
Glass Bead making has been around for Centuries.
Bead making has evolved and declined in use and skill many times. If you look at a time chart you will see that the craftsmanship has gotten very involved and then a few hundred years later it's almost like the skill had been lost and was started over again from scratch. The most impressive bead making, in my opinion, was done by the Phoenicians in around 3000 B.C.
The Vikings also made beads, using only a wood burning kiln and they dipped and wound their beads onto mandrels from a crucible.
The production of glass beads was used throughout the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain. But it did not become common again in the West until its resurgence in the 7th Century.
The center for glass making from the 14 Century was the island of Murano which developed many new techniques.
Modern beadmakers use a torch with MAPP Gas, or one with propane and oxygen. The production of Glass rods have also spread around the world, from Japan to Italy and many areas in between.
Wood and Metalworking
Woodworking covers a broad spectrum from weaponry to household uses to defensive forts. The common woodworker would be a skilled craftsman with the ability to make wooden barrels, arrows, weaponry, axe handles, arrow shafts, bows, crossbows, spears, lances, shields, tent poles and necessary building fortifications.
On the homefront, woodworkers would create beds tables chairs, eating utencils and plates. All items were hand crafted out of necessity, and each piece posessed the characteristics and traits of their cultures and the artisans who created them.
Steelworkers or bladesmiths produced knives and axes and weapons necessary for defense of household and property, or upon orders of their leige to create weapons for warfare.
Ironworkers made hinges, belt puckles, pots and pans, iron fitting for the house or fortress, gates and so forth. They were also farriers, who would put the steel or iron horseshoes to the animal.
Woodworkers and metalworkers will be demonstrating their crafts at our faire. Stop by, and learn what was involved in the process of working their trades.
Illuminating
We in the scribal arts have barely scratched the surface of all the archaic wisdom to be leaerned from the past.
Texts from the middle ages could not be mass produced. Each page was hand scribed, and often ornamented with intricate illumination.
Primarily illumination was accomplished by Christian or Catholic monks who dedicated their lives to the scribal arts. The transcription of the Latin language into God's word.
The science portion of scribal arts bordered on alchemy, and because of the needs for grinding various earths with mortar and pestle. Studies of plant dyes, uses of paper and parchment materials, depositiing or making gold and silver leafing, and the illustrations were in general completed at the request of the buyer of the book and served two purposes: 1) they told a story as well as the text and 2) decorated the book.
You might say that the illustrations of the era were like comic books to the medieval people, to allow those who could not read Latin to still understand and appreciate the work.
Another facet could be considered the symbolism of the era, which could be heraldry or creatures grotesue or real in nature..
We invite you to investigate and satisfy your curiosity. Come and play!
Clothing
Clothing was an excellent indicator of social status and wealth. It demonstrated the differences between nobility and commoners, and helped to define ones place within the social hierarchy. At our faire, you will be able to see examples of garb from a cross section cultures, which may include Russian, Viking, Tutonic or Germanic, Japanese, Mongol, and points in between. This is not fantasy, this is a historical representation of clothing and materials used in the past.
As part of our demonstration, we will have medievally garbed dolls portraying various cultures. Demonstrations on drop spinning, period textiles and techniques for creating garb in different parts of the world.
Please come visit us, and learn more about the tapestry of medeival life.
In additions to the Arts & Science demonstrations mentioned above, a number of Merchants at the Medieval Faire will be demonstrating medieval techniques or giving lessons at their shops. A list of merchants holding demonstrations follows (other merchants will be providing handouts):
- Ottoman Trading Company – Will be explaining the history or tradition of Turkish wares. Will be giving away Turkish “Evil Eye” protection and cards explaining the belief.
- Frontier Forge – Edward the Smith will be giving demonstrations of blacksmithing on his forge.
- Intriguing Designs – Will be giving demonstrations on stick weaving and naalbinding, a Norse style of knitting.
- Arrow Leather – Will be giving demonstrations on how to start a fire with flint and steel.
- Swansdowne – Scot the Chandler will be demonstrating candlemaking. Odilia will be demonstrating making beaded headware.
- Cinphire Candles – Kate the Candlemaker will be displaying a book that contains over 60 pages of original documents from the archives of the Worshipful Company of Waxchandlers (beeswax guild in London.). She will also have examples of wicking and beeswax candles to examine.
- The Cat and Candle – Aeryth will be making flower crowns and jewelry.
- Dragonfire Pottery and Morgainaware – Mistresses Gwen and Morgaina will be demonstrating painting underglazes on bisqueware bowls and tiles. Literature will also be available on pottery shapes of the Middle Ages.
- Stonebreaker’s Keep – Will show how to carve stone.
- A Majikal Image – Will be demonstrating making chainmail and jewelry.
- Autumn Creek – Cat, the Toy Lady will be demonstrating various toys and games.
- The Mystical Footbath (in Ravenhill’s Booth) – While performing footbaths, Lady Ophelia will also be teaching about the history of the footbath from ancient times through the Middle Ages.
- Fire Fox Leather & Furs – Teaching about the differences between period garb and movie clothing.
- Frigga Green Needle – Includes a history lesson with each sale.
- Gaean Allusions – Will demonstrate clay button-making.
- Haus Maus (In Gifts of Atlantis Booth) – Lord Alexsander will be demonstrating coin-making from hand carving the dies to hand stamping the coins.
- Sajy (In Gifts of Atlantis Booth) – Will be discussing the history of fortune telling.
- Hawk and Dove Leather – Will demonstrate making leather lace and preparing leather for belt making.
- Keystone Ironworks – Lewis the Smith will demonstrate blacksmithing.
- Peg Leg’s Gifts & Crafts – Will demonstrate various games and other projects.
- Seams Like Magik – Will be demonstrating a broad overview of fabric and dyes in the Middle Ages.
- Shadows Treasure Chest – Will be demonstrating spinning and weaving.
- Sparrowhawk – Will be demonstrating cardweaving and other small weaving techniques.
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