Ecranche shield

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:40 am

Recently made for Jeff Hedgecock.

Client supplied the shield, ready clothed, I reinforced the rim, gesso, raised crescent, silver leaf, vermillion, yellow., modern acrylic varnish to seal silver.

top pic shows final stage figuring, bottom shows plain ground prior to figuring.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:28 am

Very cool Jorge!

Figuring or daipering grounds always makes the arms pop, I think.

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:06 am

Very nice

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:43 am

nicely done!

Can we see a pic of the whole shield finished?

Is that style vining based on any particular illumination or is it simple artist's interpretation?

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:55 am

Thankyou for your kind comments, appreciated.

II, the figuring is very common, in that flourished floral or faux floral patterns were used to add depth to an otherwise plain background. You see that on quite a few pavise backgrounds for example and even some woven textiles have an underlying pattern that only shows up with the light angle change. Such backgrounds also feature heavily in miniature images, again to add a bit more interest to the background. So I have based mine on those types, I would say it is more faux floral than representative.

Due to me trying to get the shield out to Jeff before he returned to the States I could only take a few snaps, however, I am assured that some shots of it in situ, close up and distant will be forthcoming.

As for the actual composition, Jeff's device for his jousts is an argent crescent on a red background, gesso in relief was done, as was of course silver leafing.

I have tried to keep the faith regarding style, materials and method where at all possible, in this case my area of control was the gesso, paint and leafing, the shield itself and the cloth were supplied by Jeff.

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:19 am

What kind of paint did you use?

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:44 am

Doh, sorry, I used egg yolk medium, 1:1 egg and water then mixed wet with the vermillion and yellows.

It dries to the touch almost instantly if laid on thin enough allowing a rapid covering in single brush strokes, it also works well over leaf, it sits without bobbling if made to the right consistency, hence it being used on the lettering.

I could just as easily used oil based medium, I would have had to allow for the longer drying time.

KinnieKat · Post by **KinnieKat** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:54 am

Saw this at Leeds Armouries this weekend when Jeff was over for the joust. The detail and artistic skill is very impressive.

Kitty xxx

woodwose · Post by **woodwose** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:08 am

Looks great, but why use acrylic varnish? My experience has been that its soft and picks up dirt easily, and is hard to strip off if needed.

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:27 pm

Gorgeous. Nice work there for sure.

earnest carruthers · Post by **earnest carruthers** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:35 pm

Dweezle, why? because silver tarnishes very easily. Also it is professional grade varnish for restorers, ie it is for exactly this kind of work, it dries quickly and is not obtrusive and has no colour cast. It is not acrylic varnish as in acrylic paints.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 1:20 pm

Hi Earnest,

There is a leather question you are admirably suited to answer, over on the research forum

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... p?t=103812

Otto von Teich · Post by **Otto von Teich** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:25 pm

outstanding workmanship!