The Armour Archive

My girlfriend and I were updating our kit before the next event and decided to take a few pictures. Our kit is Irish, c. 900. We are trying to represent the lowest land-owning nobles.

http://saverio4444.tripod.com/ikit304.html

My brooch is based on one from County Kilkenny and hers is based on an Irish hand pin. Both are made of bronze.

All the clothing is linen and wool, with hand finished visible seams. My shoes are based on some found in an Irish bog, hers will follow shortly.

This is for her 1st SCA event, and my second. What do you think?

My knowledge of 10th century Irish garb is pretty limited because my main area of intrest is 9th-10th century Danish.
However the little I do know recognises your kits as dark ages Irish so you must be doing something right

Where did you get your Brooch? it looks great.
Engenulf

Thanks. I bought my brooch from Raymond's Quiet Press. I knew I'd never be able to make something that complex. However, I made my girlfriend's pin (based on an Irish hand pin). I really should take a more detailed picture of it.

Do you think we're set for my second SCA event?

Hey,
my girlfriend's persona is 9th century Irish, and she has a few questions about how you did things, if you don't mind.
How did you do the cut of the arms and the sleeves? Also, how many layers are you wearing? How do the layers differ? She's especially interested in the female garb, not surprisingly. It'd be exceedingly helpful if you had pictures of the garb without the brat (cloak) over it.
And what were your sources for the cut of the clothes, and how you wear them?
Sorry about the inquisition, she's excited to see anyone else in her period, and incidentally, I think you look great, and are absolutely ready for an SCA event.

SCA event ready? I'd say you are ready for a "period nit-pickers anonymous" meeting.

I have no idea if your garb is accurate but just looking at you makes me believe. It has the feel of the time and the look of the place as far as I can tell.

Angus

I can actually answer a question!

jenseny wrote: Also, how many layers are you wearing? How do the layers differ?

In the picture, I'm wearing the linen leine and the brat. From my understanding, usually one would wear a linen under piece, then a wool leine, and then the brat.

Hopefully that was of some help. And thank you for your response and feedback.

I'll see what I can do about posting pictures of myself with just the leine on.

Your lady looks erriely like a younger version of an Ex of mine...could be her sister by her appearance...What is the belt you gird yourslef with, I can not see it clearly in the picture.

Regards,
Byram

jenseny, tell her to first read this page from Kass's site. It explains it all better than I can .
http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/ir ... ndary.html
I keep forgeting who wrote it, but it was a friend of Kass.

As Awestie said, she is wearing a linen leine and wool brat. This was probably the typical combination for both men and women. I'm wearing a linen leine (blue) with a checked wool leine over it. There are no specific mentions of wool leinte (plural of leine), but I feel there is enough circumstantial evidence to justify it.

The leine pattern I developed consists of 4 pieces (front, back, 2 sleeves). The body panels are just rectangles (~30" wide) and the sleeves are trapezoids.

We mostly used the Book of Kells and the Cattle Raid of Cooley for sources, but we also looked at some carvings closer to 900 AD. Have your girlfriend e-mail me, I'll send her all of my links. Saveri444 (@) hotmail.com
She can also tell us which details she wants better pictures of.


"SCA event ready? I'd say you are ready for a "period nit-pickers anonymous" meeting."

Angus, I'm going to assume there was supposed to be a smiley after that

BdeB, we both guessed on the belts, since I haven't found any info on belts or buckles. Awestie is wearing a simple tie belt, and mine has a small copper buckle.

I just added a few more pictures to the page
http://saverio4444.tripod.com/ikit304.html
We'll try to take some pictures of us in just the leinte before we go to the event (Saturday).

For a detailed critique of your kit, I bet these guys can help you out. (They've successfully become what I wanted for MY Celtic Re-enactment Forum)

http://livinghistory.ie/modules.php?name=Forums
http://www.livinghistory.co.uk/400-1100/intro/index.html

Thanks Swordsmith, I'm definately going to bookmark that.

It's not too late for you forum. I still try to post there as much as possible.

Saverio wrote:jenseny, tell her to first read this page from Kass's site. It explains it all better than I can .
http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/ir ... ndary.html
I keep forgeting who wrote it, but it was a friend of Kass.

It was Mara Riley, the former owner of "Clothing of the Ancient Celts" site (which now also lives at Reconstructing History). It is a summary of what was published by Henry Foster McClintock in his work "Old Irish and Highland Dress".

Saverio, my husband was so excited by your kit that he ran through the house yelling to me about it. Good work!

Kass

kass wrote:Saverio, my husband was so excited by your kit that he ran through the house yelling to me about it. Good work!

Kass

Wow, I didn't realize that Bob had an interest in 9th/10th century Ireland . I feel so honored that something I did could get him that excited.

He doesn't have an interest in it for himself. But he loves when something looks "right". He loves to see someone really looking at the sources when they make their "attempt" and not just embroidering Celtic knotwork doggies onto a t-tunic because they saw one in the Museum Reps catalog, y'know?

And he's easily excitable. Easy... just not cheap.

Kass

kass wrote:He doesn't have an interest in it for himself. But he loves when something looks "right". He loves to see someone really looking at the sources when they make their "attempt" and not just embroidering Celtic knotwork doggies onto a t-tunic because they saw one in the Museum Reps catalog, y'know?

And he's easily excitable. Easy... just not cheap.

Kass

In that case, he probably doesn't want to see my day-glo orange poly t-tunic with celtic knotwork ankh . It goes so nicely with my combat boots and camo sweat pants.

At least not after a heavy meal...

Damn, Saverio. Just reading that gave me a head-rush!

Kass

Well, just rest assured that I won't be wearing any of that stuff to my next event. Speaking of which, you wouldn't happen to be planning on going to the Coronation this Saturday, would you? Livingston, NJ isn't that much of drive from Easton

You're local?!?! Goodness. Chalk one up for our team!

Bob and I will indeed be at Coronation. One might even say "with silver spangles on". Come introduce yourself, please.

Kass

Great!
I've seen a few pictures of you, so I should probably be able to find you. Will you be dressed in 15th century clothing?

Flag me down if you see me, I'll probably be the only one with a grey brat and checked leine .

I'll memorize your picture so I'll know you.

Bob and I will be shockingly post-period (GASP!) -- 1630s.

Kass

Don't worry, I won't blow the wistle on you two.

Will you be attending the feast? We didn't reserve spots, but are hoping there are some left .

Us too! We just sent in our reservations today.

Kass

I'll have a few more pictures after Saturday

Not bad, Just get the young lady some shoes and you are set. I am glad you used linnen and wool. I also have that broach from Raymond. My pin is pladed in bronze though. I also have found very little evidence for pouches. I know of 2 found in 9th cent Dublin. Or at least what is thought to be pouches of a Birka design. The book Ireland and Scandinavia in the early Viking Age. Wonderful souce book. Every detail comes from primary sources. Here is another good site. http://homepage.eircom.net/~gael/

Seathrun MagAoinghous

Seathrun wrote:Not bad, Just get the young lady some shoes and you are set. I am glad you used linnen and wool. I also have that broach from Raymond. My pin is pladed in bronze though.

pladed in bronze?

I also have found very little evidence for pouches. I know of 2 found in 9th cent Dublin. Or at least what is thought to be pouches of a Birka design. The book Ireland and Scandinavia in the early Viking Age. Wonderful souce book. Every detail comes from primary sources. Here is another good site. http://homepage.eircom.net/~gael/

I wish there was evidence for pouches. But there are certain thing I require at events, so I have to wear it.

I've been watching the Gael Agus Gall site for a few months now, still hoping for new pics

look to viking style pouches of the same time period. It is reasonable to think that with as much traveling the vikings did that the Irish could easily have adopted the viking pouch idea.

If nothing else, simple draw string pouchs date back to well before Ireland was "Ireland"