Reference Tools
Art of the Stonemason - $25.00
Ian Cramb. Drawing on five generations of family tradition as stonemasons in his native Scotland, Ian Cramb created this masterful work to pass on his knowledge and experience to craftsmen who wish to learn the ancient, but still necessary, principles of the stonemason’s art. Paper, 8.5 x 11, 174 pp, over 150 photos & line drawings, resources, glossary, index. Alan Hood
At Home in Renaissance Italy - $45.00
Marts Ajmar-Wollheim & Flora Dennis, editors. This lavishly illustrated volume is the first to consider the urban Italian household as a crucible for the development of art & culture. Evoking the spaces in which everyday lives were lived, it presents an entirely fresh approach to the period. Sections include: Defining the Casa, Living, Everyday Activities, Sociability & Entertainment, Art & Objects. Oversize Paper, dw, 420pp, index, extensive bibliog., notes & sources, summary catalog w/sources of plates, color photos on almost every page Victoria & Albert/Getty
Compendium of Common Knowledge 1558 – 1603 - $19.95
Maggie Secara. This book collects material useful to one who wishes to speak and behave more forsoothly. It offers insights into ordinary lives-both common and noble-in Elizabethan England. There are notes on food, occupations, games, religion, manners, attitudes, and education-the little details that make up daily life, that everyone knows without thinking. As recommended in Tournaments Illuminated. Secara Books
Far Traveler: voyages of a Viking Woman - $15.00
Nancy Marie Brown. 500 years before Columbus, a Viking woman named Gudrid sailed off the edge of the known world. She landed in the New World and lived there for three years, giving birth to a baby before sailing home. Or so the Icelandic sagas say. Even after archeologists found a Viking longhouse in Newfoundland, no one believed that the details of Gudrid’s story were true. Then, in 2001, a team of scientists discovered what may have been this pioneering woman’s last house, buried under a hay field in Iceland, just where the sagas suggested it could be. Joining scientists experimenting with cutting edge technology and the latest archeological techniques, and tracing Gudrid’s steps on land and in the sagas, the author reconstructs a life that spanned-and expanded-the bounds of the then-known world. She also sheds new light on the society that gave rise to a woman even more extraordinary than legend has painted her. Pb, 320pp. Harcourt
Fifty Animals
That Changed History - $29.95
Eric Chaline. Similar in format to Fifty Plants That Changed History, this fascinating title is a beautifully presented guide to the animals that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Including the horse, dog, rat, whale, reindeer, beaver, flea, leech, dodo, falcon, oyster, and shark, these creatures have played central roles in the evolution of mankind and our culture. Hardcover, 224pp, more than 150 illus, full color throughout, suggested further reading, index, and ribbon marker. Firefly Books.
Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History - $29.95
Bill Laws. A beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Each entry includes a description, botanical name, range, and primary functions – edible, medicinal, commercial, or practical. Concise text is highlighted by elegant drawings and photos. Discusses (among others) rice, tea, cotton, rubber, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, wine grapes, corn, agave, pineapple, hemp, coconut, eucalyptus, sweet pea, white mulberry, English oak, white willow. Hardcover, 224 pp, full color throughout. Insdex, further reading, useful websites. Firefly Books
Fleece & Fiber
Sourcebook - $35
Deborah Robson & Carol Ekarius. This book is aimed at both spinners, weavers, and other fiber artists, and also at animal raisers. It is a one-of-a-kind j photographic encyclopedia of more than 200 animals and the fibers they produce. It covers almost every breed of sheep known, as well as camelids, goats, bison, horses, rabbits, and dogs. Each spread includes photos of the animal, its raw fleece, cleaned fleece, spun yarn, and samples of that yarn knit and woven. Both authors are well-known crafters. Hardcover, 448pp. Storey.
Illuminated
Manuscripts From Belgium and the Netherlands - $19.95
Thomas Kren. During the 15th & 16th centuries, the area now known as Belgium and the Netherlands produced one of the greatest flowerings of the art of illumination anywhere in Europe. The region’s colorful, naturalistically painted books were eagerly sought. This collection contains works by the finest , most original artists, made for the most discerning patrons. Pb, 96pp, 85 color illus. Getty
Imagining
the Past in France: History in manuscript painting, 1250 – 1500. - $49.95
Elizabeth Morrison & Anne D, Hedeman. In this period, the most important & original work was being done in secular manuscripts. This volume celebrates the vivid historical imagery produced then. The images enabled the past to come alive before the eyes of medieval readers, relating the adventures of epic figures of the past. 55 manuscripts, plus medieval objects ranging from tapestries to ivory boxes, are presented here. An exhibition of the same name will be at the Getty from 11/16/11 to 2/6/12. Full color throughout. 384pp, 9x12 inches; 23 p bibliog., index of names & texts, index of works of art. Getty
Knives & Scabbards: Medieval Finds from Excavations in London -
$37.95
J Cowgill, M de Neergaard,
N Griffiths. Reprinted from the Museum of London’s original
publication. This catalog details over 500 items found in the
archeological excavation of 12th century London middens.25 b/w illos, much highly technical material. For the serious
recreationist or craftsman: a classic work of scholarship. Paper,184pp. Boydell & Brewer.
The Known World
Handbook, 2010 edition - $30.00
Wes Hanna ( Master Kainin Tepesa, OP), editor. At last! A new edition of the most basic reference tool for medieval recreationists! Contains basic instruction on heavy fighting and rapier, arts & sciences of all kinds, costuming, camping, armoring, awards & heraldry, and many many other topics. An indispensible guide. Perfect bound, 8.5x11, 222 pp, numerous b/w illus, photos, diagrams, charts. SCA
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Life Along the Silk Road - $24.95 |
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Material Culture in
London in an age of transition: Tudor and Stuart period finds c.1450-c.1700
from Excavations at Riverside sites in Southwark -
$40.00
Geoff Egan. Similar in format to the various Museum of London Archeological books such as Dress Accessories and Knives & Scabbards, this volume records in amazing detail a rare assemblage of items from the Tudor and Stuart periods. Clothing & accessories, household equipment, pilgrim souvenirs, fixtures & fittings horse equipment, arms & armor, materials related to writing, reading, and leisure pursuits, all are cataloged here. Extremely useful for artisans and serious late-period recreators. Oversize Tr pb, 257pp, index, glossary of leather terms, bible, metallurgical analyses. English Heritage MoL AS
Medieval Fantasy as
Performance: The Society for Creative Anachronism and the Current Middle Ages - $39.95
Dr Michael Cramer (Jarl Valgard Stonecleaver).”Historical re-creation and re-enactment organizations of various sorts have become so popular that they constitute one of the major ways that ordinary people with a deep interest in history interact with the past. Yet the scale, complexity and variety of this activity is hardly known to scholars. “ Cramer discusses the SCA and lucidly explains why its distinctive mix of re-creation, fantasy, and role-playing has attracted thousands over the past 40+ years. He shows how the SCA uses performance to construct a postmodern counterculture. TR pb, 200pp, 3 appendices, bibliog., index, 12 b/w photos. Scarecrow Press/
Medieval &
Renaissance Furniture - $19.95
Daniel Diehl & Mark P Donnelly.36 projects for historic
benches, chairs, tables, cupboards, chests, shelves, beds, and doors, all done
with simple woodworking tools Detailed
plans based on careful study and measurement of original pieces and accurate
reproductions Step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and notes on woodworking,
metalworking, and finishing Foreword by
Roy Underhill of the PBS series The Woodwright's Shop
Medieval Horse &
Its Equipment - $47.95
Clark, John, edited. This volume publishes horse equipment and associated objects discovered during excavations in London during the ‘70s and ‘80s. An overview of the excavation is followed by sections on harness-fittings, horseshoes, spurs and spur-fittings, and curry combs. An appendix reports on the skeletal evidence. (Unfortunately, no horse cloths or bardings survived.) Paper, 185pp, 132 b/w illus. Boydell & Brewer
Medieval Household:
Daily Living c. 1150-1450 - $60.00
Geoff Egan. This book brings together the astonishing diversity of excavated furnishings and artifacts from medieval London homes. These include roofing and other structural items, decorative fixtures and fittings, and assortments of culinary utensils, writing instruments, and toys and weights. Illustrating more than 1,000 items from archeological digs in London, this catalog provides a fascinating account of how metalwork and glassware trends changed during the period. Long unavailable, this new release is a boon to the medieval scholar. Hardcover, 342pp, b/w photos, diagrams and sketches throughout. Extensive bibliog. Boydell Press.
Medieval Painting in
Bohemia – SALE! $30.00
Jan Royt. Originally published in Czech in 2002, and now available in English, this book assesses the history of painting in Bohemia and Moravia from the late 9th century to 1526. This book will be an indispensable guide for anyone curious about this region. HC, 160pp, 80 color plates. Karolinum Press
Medieval Pets - $45.00
Kathleen Walker-Meikle. Animals in
the Middle Ages have often been discussed, but this
book takes a different approach, showing that they were also beloved domestic
companions. It offers a full survey of pets and pet-keeping, including the
problems that keeping pets could cause. Many charming
illustrations. 196pp, 10 b/w & 8 line illus, HC. Boydell & Brewer
The Odyssey of Ibn Battuta: Uncommon Tales of a Medieval Adventurer - $25.00
David Waines. Battuta, born in 14th century Morocco, was one of the world’s great travelers. He left an account of his remarkable journeys throughout the Islamic world and beyond. The indefatigable Battuta brought to vivid life a medieval world rimming with marvel and mystery. He exhibited an omnivorous interest in food & drink, religious differences, and ideas about purity, disease, women, and sex. The author gives a gripping treatment of the life and times of one of history’s most daring, and at the same time most human, adventurers. PB, 240pp, 22 halftones. University of Chicago Press
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Paris in the Middle Ages – SALE!
$24.95
Simone Roux, translated by Jo Ann McNamara. Paris in the Middle Ages was home to a great variety of people, from royalty to mountebanks. It was Europe’s largest, most cosmopolitan city. The author chronicles the lives of Parisians over the course of a dozen generations as Paris grew from a military stronghold to a city recovering from the plagues of the 1390s. Roux peers into people’s lives in their homes as well as the public world of affairs and entertainments. She examines the Latin quarter (home to university students), the precincts of Notre Dame, the mercantile world, and the royal palace, to tell us how people actually ate, slept, dressed, fought, worked & worshipped. Hardcover, 264pp, dj, notes, bibliog., timeline, glossary, brief index. University of Pennsylvania Press.
Passions and Tempers: a history of the humors - $14.95
Noga Arikha. The humors were substances thought to circulate within the body and determine a person’s health, mood, and character. Eating food that was ‘cold’ in nature would thus help to balance a person who was ‘hot’ or choleric in temperament, for example. This theory remained an inexact but powerful tool for 2,500 years, surviving scientific changes and offering guidance to physicians and cooks alike. This book examines these theories & follows them from their Western origin in ancient Greece to their present-day versions. Pb, 356pp, 25p index, notes, chapter-by-chapter biblio (divided into primary & secondary sources), 30 b/w illos. Ecco
Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the
Color of Desire - $15.95’
Amy B Greenfield. A brief history of dyeing in the Ancient and Medieval world is followed by an intensive history of the cochineal dyestuff: its origins, cultivation, spread to Europe, and attempts to cultivate it outside Mexico & South America. Fascinating and well-written. Paper, 338pp, extensive notes, 25p biblio, index, 12 color illos & numerous b/w illos. Harper Collins
Practical Pyromaniac
- $16.95
Willaim Gurstelle. How to build fire tornadoes, one-candlepower engines, Great Balls of Fire, fire (bow) drill and many more incendiary devices. Also includes helpful instructions on making cloth fire-proof, paper fire-resistant, and constructing a fire extinguisher. Trade paper, 212pp. index, b/w photos & diagrams, biblio, index. Chicago Review Press.
Seafarers, Merchants
and Pirates in the Middle Ages - $24.95
Dirk Meier, trans Angus McGeoch. A vivid and highly-illustrated history of seafaring in the Middle Ages based on archeological evidence and contemporary accounts. PB, 192pp, 44 color & 28 b/w illus. Boydell & Brewer
Shoes and Pattens - see Costume
Textiles & Clothing - see Costume
Time Traveler’s Guide
to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the 14th Century -
$26.00
Ian Mortimer. Profiles everyday life in 14th-century England, covering everything from period beliefs and styles to hygiene and medical practices, in a history that also discusses the influence of warfare. HC, 352pp. Touchstone
Wild Color: The Complete Guide to Making and Using Natural Dyes - $22.99
Jenny Dean. For the beginner as well as the experienced dyer, this book shows how to dye all types of fibers using traditional plants in new ways, providing step-by-step, swatch-complemented instructions. Use of mordants, safety instructions, list of resources, index. 250 options for more than 65 plant species. Trade paper, 144 pp, color photos throughout. Watson-Guptill
Women’s Work: Embroidery
in Colonial Boston - $40.00
Pamela A Parmal. Charming us with their whimsy and conjuring a warm domesticity, embroideries from the colonial era also help illuminate the lives of the women who made them. Colonial women kept these works (which could take years to complete and used materials brought great distances) and displayed them proudly. This book tells the stories of six women and how needlework shaped their lives. Not only did it promote the silk trade, it allowed women to sell supplies and patterns, and run schools to train young girls in this fine art. HC, dw, 184pp, 120 color illus. Museum of Fine Arts.
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