[Sca-cooks] "Leather and Leatherworking" (BMR book review)

[Sandra Kisner]

I know this isn't cooking related, but I'm not on any other SCA lists.  Not 
to mention there may be some interest here.  Once again I'll post a 
heavily-truncated bit of the original post, with a link to the BMR website 
and an offer to forward the entire review to anyone who is 
interested.  Please feel free to pass this on to other lists!

Sandra

Subject: BMR: Mould et al., Leather and Leatherworking (Hillyer)
(from TMR 06.01.11)

Quita Mould, Ian Carlisle, and Esther Cameron. Leather and Leatherworking 
in Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York. The Archaeology of York: Volume 
17: The Small Finds: Fascicule 16 Craft, Industry and Everyday Life. 
Published for York Archaeological Trust by the Council for British 
Archaeology, 2003. Pp. viii + 364. $50.00 (pb).  ISBN1-902771-36-2.

Perhaps there was an old saying among early medieval Londoners that went 
something like this: "Never judge an Anglo-Scandinavian from York until you 
walk a mile in his boots." Now it may be possible to recreate the 
opportunity of gaining such an insight by utilizing information found in 
this book.

The text provides an in-depth report of the archeological discoveries of 
leather objects found in York during excavations from the 1970s up to 1999. 
Most of the items discussed were located at the excavation site known as 
16-22 Coppergate. Although leather usually decomposes in the earth, the 
York excavations provided an abundance of leather goods.
<major snippage>
The "Everyday Life" section succeeds as the most interesting part of the 
book. All aspects of shoemaking are discussed extensively with many 
illustrations and photographs. The changes of styles and construction 
techniques from the ninth century to the fifteenth century are expertly 
explained.  The specimens found in York are then compared with other 
examples of such work found in other areas of Europe. The discussion of the 
scabbard and knife sheath leatherwork follows the same method of presentation.
<rest of the article cut>

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