Finished at last
I was far too tired to post the finished antependium pictures when I got home from Nottingham yesterday, and I had work today, so apologies for the delay. Special apologies to Caz, who texted me over the weekend to let me know that her mean brother wouldn’t send her the pictures and made her wait for the blog post.
This is the high resolution version from the aforementioned meanie Gareth’s camera, so if you click on it it ought to get quite big. He did make me a new set of trestles though, because the old ones weren’t as tall as the antependium. One of the priests on site thought this was about the right height for an altar though.
And here’s the dodgy mobile phone camera picture of the thing in situ (it was pretty grey all weekend). I usually dress the Royal tent with a display of secular silver, but went for a private chapel this weekend to show off my new pretty(it’s largely the same silver, as a lot of what we now see as religious silver was originally secular silver that was saved from being melted down and refashioned by being dedicated to some saint or church or wotnot) I forgot the blue and white tablecloth, so the eageleyed amongst you may notice that the cloth either side of the antependium doesn’t match – it’s because I draped two napkins instead.
To a certain extent I do realise that the antependium was largely overlooked this weekend because there’s just so much going in inside the King’s tent – ornate hangings, applique and embroidered banners, surcotes, the crown etc as well as the silver – but I don’t have a problem with this. When attempting to depict medeival royalty minimalism is bollocks – more is definately more. Quite frankly I think this tent needs more embroidery, more painted wood, and lots more silver.
NEED – more embroidery – one small project for the coming year is a noah’s ark hanging which I think will look nice behind the altar. I also want a cushion on top of the strongbox.
fancy scabbard for the kings sword
More light(Grumble grumble – am going to have to try and get my head round the chandaliers I abandoned a few years ago, must buckle down)
I also want a reliquary, silver, and preferably a body part. I’ve seen a finger reliquary that looks as if it’s making a rude gesture, I intend to call it the holy finger of saint snotticus, patron saint of nose pickers (this is what happens when you leave an athiest in charge of making your private chapel)
It was when the nice nuns from next door came in to pray that I realised I also need a small carpet (everything at Nottinham gets scattered with leaves, we pick them out the tents the next spring) with a couple of kneeling cushions on it.
Although this is not a big project, I think it needs some research. I seem to recall that the cushions I’ve seen various figures in medieval art kneeling down on are not at all like the modern, square sided church kneelers found today, but have tassels at the corners. This could be problematic as they will really need a wooden back to protect the embroidery from damp ground underfoot, so I think I need to research low footstools.
Hopefully JOhn will have some pictures of the whole tent with guards, as I seem to have forgotten
Very, very nice. It’s beautiful. And looks great in place.
inlovewiththreads said this on October 30, 2012 at 5:11 pm |
it does look nice, but it still needs to be surrounded by more shiny, and possibly a bit more
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:06 pm |
Everything needs more shiny. (You should see my bling!)
inlovewiththreads said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:40 pm
ssshiny is good. we likes the shiny, precious
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 9:06 pm
‘Like!’
inlovewiththreads said this on October 31, 2012 at 12:22 am
My God! It’s Wonderful!
mercuriade said this on October 30, 2012 at 5:11 pm |
thankyou
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:05 pm |
Oh my goodness… wow! I hope you are duly proud of yourself. It is fantastic.
(And, as a slight aside – I really admire how much time, effort, expense, thought and overall STUFF you put into your depictions. I see dozens (hundreds?) of re-enactors who seem to think if they wear bright/dark colours and strap on a sword and/or a crown then they’ve got ‘upper class’ down to a tee, no matter if they are wearing an ill-fitting synthetic/cotton bag and missing most of their clothing. You, however, not only have really nice handmade stuff but consistently have really nice handmade stuff and lots of it. Bravo. I hope one day I’ll bump into you and get to see it and you in the flesh.)
Panth said this on October 30, 2012 at 5:49 pm |
its a problem endemic in re enactment, and always has been. I like to do things properly though. the nylon nobility either hate me, or get all pally like we’re on the same level and I won’t notice the synthetic tunics, which is, erm… interesting…
Whereabouts do you live? your adress says uk – I usually get to berkely(although not with a lot of living history) and occaisionally tewkesbury, and am usually around at TORM as a trader
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:05 pm |
Ugh. Tell me about it. The ‘nylon nobility’ irritate me and their cousins the ‘everyone-wore-mud-doncha-know peasants’ also…
I’m oh-so-slowly attempting to improve my stuff.
My group is in S. Wales but I’m currently just N. of London. I tried to get to Berkley for the first time this year but, of course, that didn’t happen. Other than that, it depends on real life (damned PhD…). So, probably no TORM for me this year (although I think I did bump into you last year at Quartermasterie and admired your henin).
Panth said this on November 1, 2012 at 6:12 pm
slowly is sometimes the best way
maybe we’ll meet up at berkely next year then – it can’t be flooded two years in a row, can it? mind you, there does tend to be a fair few nylon nobs at berkely
opusanglicanum said this on November 1, 2012 at 8:33 pm
If I can get there, it sounds like a plan. ^_^ Now, to endeavour to remember this plan…
Panth said this on November 3, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Congratulations on this spectacular piece! I’ve bee following your progress, and have enjoyed every stitch. Thank you for sharing this remarkable journey. I truly love this piece! — Cindy in Cape May, NJ
variedthreads said this on October 30, 2012 at 5:50 pm |
Thanks -I enjoyed most of the stitches – but not the ones where I stabbed myself
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:02 pm |
A truly wonderful piec of work!!!!
mog said this on October 30, 2012 at 6:41 pm |
thanks
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:01 pm |
exquisite!
Fridrikr Tomasson said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:01 pm |
thankyou
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:13 pm |
Wow, it looks great. Well done. Fantastic achievement. The nuns look like they really like it.
Patch said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:09 pm |
thanks
I;ve always thought nuns were a bit inscrutable – specially thier bums
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:10 pm |
Very well done indeed! It’s been a long job, but worth the effort. As you say, the medievals didn’t “do” minimalism, so the more the merrier!
Rachel said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:11 pm |
thanks.
I still think it will take a few years before the royal tent is unminimalist enough for me
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 7:13 pm |
I think you are now under obligation to have children. This piece is far far too precious not to be passed down the family line. Seriously. It’s just stupendous.
MeganH said this on October 30, 2012 at 8:12 pm |
eeeew! I am 42 and officially far too old to sprog!
besides, they’d only get jam on it or something
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 9:06 pm |
This is beyond description. I am amazed and awed by the time, workmanship and how many darn stitches are in this thing! Well done. It is beautiful.
Tia Dia said this on October 30, 2012 at 8:52 pm |
thank you
opusanglicanum said this on October 30, 2012 at 9:05 pm |
Very beautiful work. I can imagine the sense of accomplishment you feel in having completed such an intricate piece. Congrats!
Kerri said this on October 31, 2012 at 6:36 am |
I think my main sense of accomplishment so far comes from getting the enormous frame out of my living room. I really want to start my next project, but am making myself wait until after christmas cos I don’t want to start really getting into something and them have to abandon it for a month to make way for the annual christmas present making binge
opusanglicanum said this on October 31, 2012 at 9:49 pm |
I think it’s absolutely magnificent. I would love to see it in the flesh. Will it get exhibited elsewhere?
annjrippin said this on October 31, 2012 at 1:41 pm |
it will go to museuems and reenactments with me as part of my display, but its been years since i did any kind of formal exhibition. gareth keeps saying he wants to sell some of my stuff in posh london art galeries for tens of thhousands, but I dont think he quite gets why I do things. maybe I should threaten to sell a few of his favourite pitcher plants?
opusanglicanum said this on October 31, 2012 at 9:47 pm |
Amazing masterpiece! Am I right You did all antependium? I’ve seen just the beginning.
And you’re right – it’s better to have lower class in reenactment, but to be dressed properly (fabrics, patterns etc.). I love fantasy, e. Discworld, but I understand, that ecclectism is good for fantasy .
Arachne from Poland said this on October 31, 2012 at 6:19 pm |
yes, I did the whole thing, even dyed the threads. I think you can get away with a certain amount of informed guesswork with authentic reenactment, but its easy to get carried away
opusanglicanum said this on October 31, 2012 at 9:45 pm |
Wow, this is stunning. If a temporal accident drops you in the 10th century, I know how you’ll make your living!
The entire altar is impressive too, but I agree you need a carpet. A faux oriental rug (the big department store chains sell them) would be just the thing; they are artificial fiber but still look pretty convincing. Price depends on size but unless you go hog-wild with a room-sized model you should get away with one for less than $100 USD.
Catherine Raymond said this on October 31, 2012 at 9:14 pm |
how did you know about my plans to earn a living as a high class courtesan when I go back to the c10th!?!
It will be a rush mat rather than a carpet, as I doubt such an expensive item would have been put on the floor in norman times, even by royalty. unless, that is, I persuade john to haul around a metre square of plywood tiled in medieval floor tiles
opusanglicanum said this on October 31, 2012 at 9:43 pm |
It is exquiste and worthy of high praise! Congratulations on such a fine work!
Joellen Watkins said this on November 1, 2012 at 2:36 am |
thanks
opusanglicanum said this on November 1, 2012 at 6:42 am |
Stunning Work! Where is the Love Button!!!! brings that much more to the overall ambiance.
Satine said this on November 1, 2012 at 7:01 pm |
thanks, I’m trying to improve all the time
opusanglicanum said this on November 1, 2012 at 8:34 pm |
[…] done entirely in naturally dyed wools and silk.” The detail of this work is astonishing. Go to her blog post for an image you can click to enlarge. And scroll back through her blog to enjoy not only the development of this project but also the […]
A finished work · Needlework News | CraftGossip.com said this on November 2, 2012 at 5:04 pm |
Very beautiful–I’ll be looking forward to seeing the progress of the Reliquary of St. Snotticus as well, or whatever you decide to go with.
What did you learn in the making of this piece?
Bránn Mac Finnchad said this on November 6, 2012 at 11:39 pm |
thank you
I had to learn something? no one tols me I had to learn any thing! *panics* er…I learned not to do it again
opusanglicanum said this on November 7, 2012 at 6:41 am |
Wow! Just wow!….what type of stitching did you use?
Elizabeth said this on January 17, 2013 at 7:33 pm |
the faces are silk split stitch, the ground is wool laid adn cocuhed work, and the detail lines are either couched or split stitched wool
opusanglicanum said this on January 17, 2013 at 7:46 pm |
[…] dyed wool (madder, weld, cochineal, indigo, walnut – mostly what was left over from the reykjahlid antependium project, plus a few extras) on manx […]
Noah’s Ark – finished | opusanglicanum said this on April 3, 2013 at 9:39 am |
[…] think I got even more bored with these than I did with the panels from the antependium because I had to do them all at […]
filler panelzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… | opusanglicanum said this on June 17, 2013 at 1:48 pm |
[…] I’ve kept it hanging around thinking that i might as well finish it once I’d got the antependium out of the way. Since I find myself ebtween projects for the next few weeks I hought I might as […]
bayeux tapestryzzzzzzzzz… | opusanglicanum said this on August 20, 2013 at 6:32 pm |
[…] had been to use the dark brownalmost but not quite black that I dyed a few years ago for the antependium project, but theres only about half a skien of that left, nowhere near enough to do all of […]
lutrell fantasy, thoughts and progress | opusanglicanum said this on February 2, 2015 at 6:06 pm |
I wish you would sell more of your of your Medieval Embroidery than your applique. I would love to buy in kits the three you have in note cards in a embroidery kit. I think your designs and Medieval embroidery are superb!!!!!!!
Sandra Popek said this on February 2, 2015 at 7:16 pm |
two of the designs,- the griffin and the dragon, are on the cards for sale and are for sale as kits. two of the card designs will never be patterns as they’re huge – the one with nine circles was two years work, the deisgn as a pattern would be a book unto itself, and the noah’s ark would be the same
opusanglicanum said this on February 3, 2015 at 9:52 pm |
[…] the internet for a while will know, this is a very period approach to laid and couched work, as the antependium was done in the same style, and is based on an extant […]
Luttrell fantasy number three – music | opusanglicanum said this on February 26, 2018 at 2:05 pm |
[…] I’m really liking the contrast of the silk faces against the wool bodies. I’ve used wool for the dark outlines and silk for the flesh, so I think they’re better integrated than the silk faces on the antependium […]
piper | opusanglicanum said this on May 2, 2018 at 5:02 am |