[Bryn-gwlad] Feast Gear Questions

[Coblaith Mhuimhneach]

Rahil al Nadir wrote:
> What is included with the feast gear?

I'd recommend at minimum you bring a bowl, a plate (or a second bowl), 
a knife, a spoon, and something to drink from, for each member of your 
party.  A cloth napkin or three each and a basket to stack it all in 
will come in handy, too, as will a candleholder and candles on some 
occasions.  "The Well-Tempered Feast Basket" 
<http://www.florilegium.org/files/NEWCOMERS/Feast-Basket-art.html> will 
give you a good overview.

> My family and I are from Al-Andulas (Moorish Spain).  We are 
> Andulasian Moors living in the city of Granada during the late 15th, 
> early 16th Centuries.  We are not extremely wealthy, but we are well 
> to do middle class type citizens.

  For your period, forks are also very justifiable, especially for 
someone of Arabic descent <http://www.maybe.org/~rodmur/sca/fork.html>.

> What are the common metals, stones, or woods used in feast gear? 

You could be asking either of two questions here; I'll try to address 
them both.


1)  What are the materials most commonly used by SCAdians for feast 
gear?

Metals:

(Modern, lead-free) pewter is a popular choice.  Some is very plain and 
utilitarian, but you can also find companies that make decorative 
pieces.  There are also modern alloys that look much like pewter but 
are less expensive, and in some cases more tarnish- and ding-resistant.

Brass, bronze, and copper are also seen in period, and, while I haven't 
noticed feast gear made from those at any of the feasts I've attended, 
they are sometimes available from vendors catering to the SCA market.

Stones:

The Norse used soapstone for cooking, among other things, several 
centuries before your period.  I'm not sure whether it made its way 
onto their tables.  I'm not personally aware of any stone options in 
feast gear.

Woods:

Olivewood is popular with some vendors.  But most of the wooden feast 
gear I've seen is either just labeled "hardwood" or "wooden", without 
specificity.  It's unlikely to matter which type of wood your gear is 
made of, as far as "fitting in" at a feast goes.

Pottery and Ceramics:

Earthenware is a popular choice, because of its relative sturdiness.  
Stoneware that can be bought (in solid colors) at houseware and 
discount stores and decorated at home with food-safe paints is, as 
well--it's not too fragile, and not too hard to replace if it does 
break.


2)  What materials would commonly have been used in tableware by your 
persona?

I don't know a great deal about your period; mine's several centuries 
earlier, and in a different part of the Knowne World.  The 15th and 
16th centuries are well-represented among Karen Larsdatter's link to 
photos of artifacts and period paintings showing table service 
<http://www.geocities.com/karen_larsdatter/feastgear.htm>; you might 
find something useful there.  (She also has links to some sellers of 
reproductions, many of which offer cited copies of artifacts from that 
era, for when you're ready to buy.)

I do know that maiolica was popular over much of Europe in your 
timespan.  HL Amata posted a link a few days ago to the site of a 
SCAdian artist <http://www.marysmaiolicaarts.com/index.html>, by whose 
work she stated she was "very impressed".  It includes historical 
information on the form, as well as photos of a few artifact pieces.

Lusterware was also apparently big in Spain in that era 
<http://www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/majolica_method.htm>.

You might find the members of the Al Andalus Yahoo! Group 
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Al_Andalus/> are better able to point 
you to resources directly related to your persona.


Happy searching, and welcome to the Society!


Coblaith Mhuimhneach
<Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text/enriched
Size: 3854 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : /pipermail/bryn-gwlad-ansteorra.org/attachments/20060903/1dcae428/attachment.bin