[HNW] Slightly OT: Paternoster-Row.org

[Chris Laning]

Strictly speaking, this is about accessories rather than costume as 
such, but I thought people might be interested. At least paternosters 
contain fiber, in the form of strings and tassels :)

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 From at least as early as A.D. 1000, rosaries, paternosters or 
similar strings of prayer beads have been a common accessory carried 
by men and women, old and young. Indeed, the small round objects we 
know in English as beads were named from this practice; the root of 
the English word _bead_ is the same as for the word _bid_, and 
originally meant "to pray or request."

Paternoster-Row <http://paternoster-row.org> is a website about the 
history of medieval rosary beads, paternosters, and prayer beads, 
with illustrations, replicas, and bibliography. Abundant references 
to existing paintings, surviving medieval beads, and source documents 
help the careful researcher tell what is known and what is legendary 
or mythical. Discussions illuminate many of the different types of 
beads and rosaries popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. 
Replicas of historical rosaries in authentic materials show what the 
originals may have looked like when new, and descriptions of how 
these were made may inspire you to make your own.

New every week, the Paternosters Blog 
<http://paternosters.blogspot.com>, linked from the Paternoster-row 
webpage, has observations on historical rosaries, paternosters and 
other forms of prayer beads, focusing on those in use before 1600AD, 
but including comments on modern trends as well. Recent short 
articles include "Ring around the rosary" (history of rosary rings), 
"News of the Weird" (some modern rosaries of odd materials), "Up 
against the wall"  (large rosaries as wall ornaments), "Counting to 
ten" (the Renaissance men's short rosary or "tenner"), "String, or 
nothing" (the materials medieval rosaries were strung on), and 
"Rosaries for Ren Faire" (on finding appropriate rosaries for 
16th-century Renaissance characters). Comments are welcome!

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O    Chris Laning <claning at igc.org>  -   Davis, California
+     http://paternoster-row.org - http://paternosters.blogspot.com
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