The Armour Archive

If you were going to ask for a reference book for Christmas or buy one with some Christmas money, what would it be?

Or what cool book have you recently found that you would recommend for your hobbyist friends?

Any of the Scaino on Tennis translations.

Alas, all the ones I can find are ridiculously expensive.

I asked for the Tudor Tailor and The Kings Men for Christmas

Volker Schmidtchen "Bombarden, Befestifungen, Buchsenmeisters" 1977

I got a copy of the 1959 MIT translation of the Plictho of Gioanventura Rosetti; it was pricey but worth it for those who want to dye cloth or leather the period way.


I also got "The King's Servants - men's dress at the accession of Henry VIII". It is the new book from the folks at the Tudor Tailor; it is a good buy if you want court clothing from that era. It details inventories one what the servants got, what was made, the color, how much a year they got and then it is combined with art work to give you an interpretation of what it should look like. Fantastic little book.



I want to see Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII; details inventories from Henry's reign.

Catalogue of Dated Tiraz Fabrics. Umayyad. Abbasid. Fatimid

"A scholarly catalogue of Egyptian tiraz fabrics from the Textile Museum collection; the text describes each fabric - roughly 200 of them - including a copy of the inscription in Arabic and a translation."

Either the Mantova book or the one that Chad Arnow was selling on the Classifieds board.

Oo. I have a whole bunch of blog postings that's basically just this topic (and an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fregistry%2Fwishlist%2F2LF1OM0A6EUHZ&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Amazon wishlist</a> too) but here's some of the nifty books that are new (or newish, less than a year old, a lot of 'em) that may be worth considering, depending on what sorts of things you're interested in:

• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0714531723?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0714531723">The Alchemy of Paint: Art, Science and Secrets from the Middle Ages</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300136714?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0300136714">The Art of Illumination: The Limbourg Brothers and the "Belles Heures" of Jean de France, Duc de Berry</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300142056?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0300142056">Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1851775838?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1851775838">Death and Art: Europe 1200-1530</a>*
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030012967X?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=030012967X">English Embroidery in the Metropolitan Museum 1580-1700: 'Twixt Art and Nature</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1851775811?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1851775811">Fashion and Armour in Renaissance Europe: Proud Lookes and Brave Attire</a>*
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0956267408?ie=UTF8&tag=mestkarelarsm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0956267408">The King's Servants: Men's Dress at the Accession of Henry VIII</a> (for someone who's really interested in clothing during the reign of Henry VIII, there's also <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1905981414?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1905981414">Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0754640965?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0754640965">Rich Apparel: Clothing and the Law in Henry VIII's England</a>, in addition to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0896762556?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0896762556">The Tudor Tailor</a>, of course)
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500238529?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0500238529">The Macclesfield Psalter</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185177582X?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=185177582X">Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500</a>*
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185177579X?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=185177579X">Medieval and Renaissance Art: People and Possessions</a>*
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1851775773?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1851775773">Renaissance Secrets: Recipes and Formulas</a>*
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801448530?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0801448530">Splendour of the Burgundian Court: Charles the Bold, 1433–1477</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439112894?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439112894">The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century</a> (this looks like it could be a terrific book, but it won't be out until after the holidays; in the meantime, there's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0980072603?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0980072603">The Peel Affinity</a>, of course)
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0954402928?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0954402928">Mary Rose - Your Noblest Shippe: Anatomy of a Tudor Warship</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802096247?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0802096247">The Opera of Bartolomeo Scappi (1570): L'arte et prudenza d'un maestro Cuoco</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500287937?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0500287937">Shakespeare's London on 5 Groats a Day</a>

And, of course, standing recommendations as always for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0896762394?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0896762394">Medieval Tailor's Assistant</a> for medieval clothiers who don't already have a copy, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9089320024?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=9089320024">Stepping Through Time</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9089320148?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=9089320148">Purses In Pieces</a> for leatherworkers who don't already have 'em, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Frichpub%2Flistmania%2Ffullview%2F368HZD8NP60G8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Museum of London/Medieval Finds from Excavations in London</a> series (if you can hold onto your holiday book-money, it looks like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1843835436?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1843835436">The Medieval Household: Daily Living</a> will be available in March!)

The books marked with asterisks above are new from the V&A.



Edited to add a few other newish books ...

• Janet Arnold's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0896762629?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0896762629">Patterns of Fashion 4: The Cut and Construction of Linen Shirts, Smocks, Neckwear, Headwear and Accessories for Men and Women C. 1540-1660</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520261747?ie=UTF8&tag=mestkarelarsm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520261747">Medieval Cuisine of the Islamic World: A Concise History with 174 Recipes</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1904982360?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1904982360">Emblems for a Queen: The Needlework of Mary Queen of Scots</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300151357?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0300151357">Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination</a>
• <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300148941?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0300148941">Pen and Parchment: Drawing in the Middle Ages</a>
• The Getty's "Medieval Imagination" series, which includes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0892369302?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0892369302">Faces of Power and Piety</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0892368888?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0892368888">Beasts Factual and Fantastic</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0892369825?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0892369825">Images in the Margins</a>

For readers in 4th-6th grades, there's also <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0763643327?ie=UTF8&tag=happy-harry-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0763643327">Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village</a>, the 2008 Newberry winner (so it's not that new, but if it's not on your child's bookshelf, it might be a good addition).

It would be a book by Carlo.

Churburg or Wallace, it doesn't matter!

Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction.

Book of the Tournament.

Tao of Jeet Kun Do.

The World Encyclopedia of Spices.(the one with recipes in the back)

The Chinese Gourmet.

-Ivan

An online subscription to "Nordic Archaeological Abstracts" and about $500 for interlibrary loan.

Mord.

http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/book.htm


Excellent book, nice f...nice book !

I'm more budget minded then some.
hooked eyes and clasps by brian read
Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges by brian spenceer
Antler, Bone, Horn & Hide by monte burch
bone and horn carveing by carson ritchie
Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn byArthur Macgregor

To be honest I suspect these may still be on my list when pennsic rolls around.

James B. wrote:I got a copy of the 1959 MIT translation of the Plictho of Gioanventura Rosetti; it was pricey but worth it for those who want to dye cloth or leather the period way.

Careful with that one! I got my girlfriend a copy for her birthday, and now she is my fiance.

Actually, I keep encouraging her to publish the materials from her annotated photocopy of this work. Her margin notes on the fiber recipes would greatly increase the value to anyone trying to make practical application of this material.

I'm just getting started with the leather recipes. Many of them require you to start with a raw hide so I am looking into sources/availability. I have a couple of deer hides lined up to tan/taw and dye sometime after Christmas.

As for me, my wishlist includes:
De Re Metallica by Georgius Agricola
The Craftsman's Handbook: "Il Libro dell' Arte" by Cennino d'Andrea Cennini , Jr. Daniel V. Thompson
On Divers Arts by Presbyter Theophilus
and
The Book of Chivalry of Geoffroi De Charny: Text, Context, and Translation by Richard W. Kaeuper

I asked for these, in the order I want them:

Imperial Austria: Treasures of Art, Arms & Armor from the State of Styria
Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight: An Illustrated History of Weaponry in the Middle Ages, David Edge, John Miles Paddock
Sword in Two Hands: A Full-Color Modern Training Guide based on the Fior di Battaglia of Fiore dei Liberi, Brian R. Price
The Art of Dueling: Salvator Fabris' Rapier Fighting Treatise of 1606, Tommaso Leoni
Teaching & Interpreting Historical Swordsmanship, Brian R. Price, ed.
The Swordsman's Companion: A Modern Training Manual for Medieval Longsword, Guy Windsor
Spada, An Anthology of Swordsmanship
Spada 2, An Anthology of Swordsmanship
The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Dürer
The Complete Engravings, Etchings and Drypoints of Albrecht Dürer

Maelgwyn wrote:

James B. wrote:I got a copy of the 1959 MIT translation of the Plictho of Gioanventura Rosetti; it was pricey but worth it for those who want to dye cloth or leather the period way.

Careful with that one! I got my girlfriend a copy for her birthday, and now she is my fiance.

It is an awesome book Congrats!

Maelgwyn wrote:Actually, I keep encouraging her to publish the materials from her annotated photocopy of this work. Her margin notes on the fiber recipes would greatly increase the value to anyone trying to make practical application of this material.

Sounds like a great project; I am adding info on the simple black to my shoe and pouch making instructions.

Maelgwyn wrote:I'm just getting started with the leather recipes. Many of them require you to start with a raw hide so I am looking into sources/availability. I have a couple of deer hides lined up to tan/taw and dye sometime after Christmas.

I would love to try and make some tawd leather. I know you had some poor results with your go at using vegetable tanned leather; but any of the dressing recipes done with gall nuts you should be able to use oak tanned hides. That is what I used in my pouch thread and the black dye worked perfect.

Josh W wrote:Either the Mantova book or the one that Chad Arnow was selling on the Classifieds board.

Took the words right out of my mouth

Lightbown, Mediaeval European Jewellery

Looks like the price has gone down with the recession - it's going for a little more than 1/2 what it was last year...

Blaine de Navarre wrote:Lightbown, Mediaeval European Jewellery

Looks like the price has gone down with the recession - it's going for a little more than 1/2 what it was last year...

Have you seen the V&A's new Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500? It might help fill that space on your shelf (and it's about one-fiftieth of the going price of the Lightbown)

Karen Larsdatter wrote:

Blaine de Navarre wrote:Lightbown, Mediaeval European Jewellery

Looks like the price has gone down with the recession - it's going for a little more than 1/2 what it was last year...

Have you seen the V&A's new Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500? It might help fill that space on your shelf (and it's about one-fiftieth of the going price of the Lightbown)

Just saw it on your list...and immediately ordered it! Thanks for the tip!

Blaine de Navarre wrote:
Just saw it on your list...and immediately ordered it! Thanks for the tip!

Ohhhh...for a second I thought you were talking about *my* book, and that you had ordered it for me.

I just added some more titles to my wish list, thanks to Karen.

The books I'm most looking forward to buying is Merchants, Princes and Painters: Silk Fabrics in Italian and Northern Paintings, 1300-1550 and the Charles the Bold catalog.

Tracy (Clare de Crecy)

Toby Capwell's thesis on 15thC English effigies and harness.

The Knight and the Blast Furnace, Carlo's new book on the Wallace Collection, and facsimile editions of the Lutrell Psalter and the Holkham Picture Bible. (Just off the top of my head.)

some of the older books are available online.
www.archive.org I found all 7 laking books. buying the actual books costs more then my pennsic budget.

Easy:
Osprey Men-at-Arms: A Celebration
It is actually what I have been wanting for this X-mas.
Sooooo many pretty pictures! *drool*

Blaine de Navarre wrote:Lightbown, Mediaeval European Jewellery

Looks like the price has gone down with the recession - it's going for a little more than 1/2 what it was last year...

Ditto. Some day... some day...

-Derian.

Tracy Justus wrote:I just added some more titles to my wish list, thanks to Karen.

Btw, just added a few more to the list above -- there were a few new goodies I forgot.

I just bought the V&A's 'Fashion and Armour in Renaissance Europe: Proud Lookes and Brave Attire' and 'Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500' while I was in England a couple of weeks ago.

'Fashion and Armour' is excellent. Casual skimming produced a bad review, but actually reading the book makes it clear Angus Patterson really gets it. Excellent book.

'Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500' is positively *delicious*, and going to be very useful!

Just MHO.

Gwen

THe Churburg Collection
And, I need a new copy of "Icelandic Sagas".

More of the <u>Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles</u> series. Seaby's <u>Coins of Ireland</u>. <u>A History of Brewing in Holland 900-1900: Economy, Technology and the State</u>. <u>Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition</u>.

-Derian.

Very fun! Keep them coming!

From Viking to Crusader by Else Roesdahl so I could give it to a friend.

Chris Knight

I am really enjoying reading about the War(s) of the Roses. I think this will probally be under the tree.

The Medieval Soldier: 15th Century Campaign Life Recreated in Colour Photographs

Cooking with Shakespeare by Mark Steven Morton