ANST - Scrolls

[Beth Richard]

Greetings!

  I moved to Ansteorra after having spent both time in Aethlemarc (though it
was Eastrealm at the time) and before that, the Midrealm.  I was a member of
the Cleftands Scribe Guild and achieved Journeyman status.

  Both these kingdoms use hand made scrolls.

  The East had some elements of the text which were required... like award
name, recipient name, date, location, royalty name, etc., but the text was
made up by the scribe.  Due to mundane considerations, I was less active in
the East than the Middle, but I never saw many promisary's being handed out.
My dearest received an original had painted Award of Arms on some kind of
paper "parchment".  The calligraphy was done with a nib pen and the
illumination was done with Guache and some kind of faux gold.  Probably a
Pilot Supercolor gold pen.

  I lived in the Midrealm MUCH longer than the East and was very active with
scribal activities there!  I can speak much more clearly to this kingdom's
methods (although it has been a LONG time since I lived there).  I was a
member of the Cleftlands (Cleveland OH) scribes guild when it was given a
Purple Fretty (a kingdom service award given to a group.  I have not lived
in Ansteorra long enough to give it's equivalent here.  Sorry)... for
presenting to HRM Alen Elegil and HRM Genevieve do Vent Argent a portfolio
containing 75 scrolls!

  The Midrealm has traditional texts for their awards and these are
distributed to all the scribes.  Portfolio scrolls have this standard text,
but with spaces left for the name, gendered pronouns, dates, location and
reason for the award.  These scrolls were then presented to the royalty for
their use throughout their reign.  On the day of the event, the herald would
get together with the scribes and distribute the names, awards, and reasons
for the awards to the scribes.  The scribes would then go through the
portfolio scrolls, find one of the appropriate award type, then fill in this
information on the scroll.  All this was done with great secrecy so as not
to spoil the surprise of the award when given at court.  At court, the
recipient then received a hand made scroll that was truly fabulous art!!!

  Higher level scrolls were often commisioned prior to the event by the
royalty.  These commisions were distributed among the most experienced
scribes.  Although the text was specified, the illumination was often
personalized.  I know of several cases where the proscribed text was
translated to the language appropriate for the personna of the recipient.
Latin, Russian (in Cyrillic), Greek, even Japanese!  Some of the members
high on the order of precedence had works of art covering their walls that
were the gifts of the royalty at each step along their path.  Truly
Beautiful.

  The scribes in the Mid worked either individually or in a Guild system.
If an individual, they could do portfolio scrolls at their leisure and give
them to the Kingdom Scribe.  If they were quite experienced, the Kingdom
Scribe could also pass them commisions.

  In a guild, typically the younger members will make AoA's and the more
experienced members will make higher level scrolls.  I probably did 20 or so
portfolio AoA's as a Novice and a few Kindgom level Arts, Sciences, and
Services awards (In the Mid: Willows, Oaks, and Purple Frets).  I was just
about to the point of doing commisioned works when I moved to the East.
Sometimes, scrolls were a collaborative effort among the guild.  Calligraphy
by one person, Illuminated Initial Letter by another, Border illumination by
yet another, etc.  I was known for my diapering (the geometric patterns
often seen behind the inital letter).  My calligraphy fair, but not
excellent.  My illumination was somewhat better than my calligraphy.  I did
the initial letter on several scrolls where someone else did the other work.

  This worked well!  Yes, people bore the expense on their own, but they
were learning the art!  We aren't surprised when other artisans pay for
their materials.  Granted, Scrolls are rarely sold and often gifted, so not
much monetary reimbursement ever happens.  But it is a GOOD feeling when you
see one of your scrolls displayed before the populace when awarded to a
recipient and the court obviously appreciated the work!

  As far as the quantity, on any given court there could be as much as a
dozen or so AoA's, a combined total of a dozen or so Kingdom level awards
and a Peerage or two.  For large events, all that can easily double.  At
events like Crown Tourney and Coronation, there's even more, but the mix
changes a little more heavily towards the higher awards.

  Near the end of the reign, the protfolio could run a little low and
occasionally there was no scrolls available for an award (Typically, AoA's,
occasionally kingdom level, NEVER for peerages!).  There was also a stock of
xerox'ed promissories which could be filled in with name, date, place,
reason, etc., just as with a portfolio scroll.  These, however, were copied
from an original done with only pen and ink calligraphy and illumination.
When a promisory was given, the royalty let the Kingdom scribe know about it
and a commision was issued.  The backlog at its worst was no more than a few
dozen people when I was there.  Typically, the commissions were finished
within a few months.  Some went longer, some quicker.


  Can this type of system work in Ansteorra?  I have no idea.  I lack the
knowledge of the istory of this kingdom to know such things.  As an artisan,
I hope each and every award recipient can hold a scroll which they look on
as valuable, both as a recognition of their acheivements as well as an
example of the fine work that their kingdom's scribes can produce.


  In Service,
    Perweur Telynor


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