Furnishing a late 14C tent (pics please)

[James of York]

I will be receiving a 12 round pavillion from Midwest Tents Monday and I need some ideas on furnishing it. I am a an Englishmanin the 1390 time frame and I am going to try to be as authentic as possible.

Pics would be great and really anytime frame would be great to see...

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

I will be receiving a 12 round pavillion from Midwest Tents Monday and I need some ideas on furnishing it. I am a an Englishman in the 1390 time frame and I am going to try to be as authentic as possible.

Pics would be great and really anytime frame would be great to see...

I'm assuming that you're going to be the only one living in this tent? I'm asking because a 12-foot diameter tent is tight digs for two people.

At base, what you'll need is somewhere to sleep, somewhere to eat and somewhere to sit. One can make a fairly inexpensive slat-bed, a small bench and a table with very little cash expenditure. I recommend the following (with links to the instructions included) :



Lanham Chest replica



A medieval wooden stool

[img]http://www.geocities.com/maithgen/wood/single_bed/image005.jpg[/img]

A single person bed

[img]http://members.shaw.ca/kilowattcommando/projects/bedpic05.jpg[/img]

A slat camp bed

[img]http://members.shaw.ca/kilowattcommando/projects/table_model_4.png[/img]

A self-contained trestle-table

[img]http://www.bumply.com/Medieval/Fauldstool/stool12.jpg[/img]

A fauldestool

I'll get with you later on lighting, tapestries and other items. Those are the basics.

Hope this helps,

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

[James of York]

Templar Bob, thanks that helps alot. I love the furniture and that chest is beautiful.

I already have a couple candle lanterns and I am making a chandelier for my centerpole. I guess now I just want to know if they would have used tapestries, religious items or anything to decorate the interior.

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

You know, a perusal of Greydragon's page would amaze you.

[James of York]

Yes, I seen it a while back I will have to look there again... I cant wait to get my "new Home"

[Templar Bob/De Tyre]

James:

My suggestion is Go to camping basics.

You need something to sleep on, that's easily portable and can break down for storage. You need at least one seat. You need at least one table.

A clothing chest (like the Lanham) can double as seating or table in a pinch. The bed can also double as seating, but a 12-foot diameter pavilion is really small. At the absolute largest, a double bed will fit in your tent (if you have a significant other to share it with). If not, I strongly urge making your bed a single, to save on space.

Consequently, you'll need to think small, or arrange for a canopy for your pavilion (which I highly recommend for your tent). Speak with the folks at Midwest Tent, Bag and Canvas. See if there can be an option of a canopy. This way, you can keep your table and benches in front of your pavilion, and save the interior for bedding and clothing storage.

As your pavilion has an option for perimeter poles, you could make a divider curtain that can cordon off your sleeping area, but leave room for dressing and sitting under the shade of your canopy. Hooks for hanging things from the tops of your perimeter poles are a good idea--Panther sells that stuff by the ton at Pennsic. Look them up.

To light your tent, you can purchase lanterns that burn olive oil (a documentable fuel), or you may choose to use parrafin lamps (which is one of the sources of lighting Hush and I use). I've seen a variation on the "cross chandelier" candle-lantern which uses glass bowls that hold votives. A workable version of this is shown here.

You can go to the Lehman's webpage to find wooden kegs with taps (lined with wax or charred inside--the charred kegs acts like an activated charcoal water filter) to stow your distilled drinking water in a container, which will eliminate the need for a plastic gallon jug visible. This can be found under the link marked "Water Department" on their page.

You can purchase horn cups at Pennsic, and either line them with beeswax, or with a food-safe epoxy (believe me, the taste of horn in your drinking vessel is not enjoyable!). There are many other things you can do, too numerous to list. If you need further help, shoot me an e-mail

Hope this helps,