Flatware and...

[helwen]

I was checking out CostPlus World Market (got there from a site on Free Trade goods), and found some flatware I thought would be acceptable for SCA use. Not perfect, but the handles are straight, not flared out, and a lot of extant pieces have a knob, curl, or some sort of thing on the end. The spoons don't have the typical pear shape, but overall I think they'll do. Plus they're metal, as opposed to our current wood ones, so more appropriate for nobility. The knives are also decent. What also appealed to me is that while you have to buy them in sets of 4 pieces, it's by the _type_ of piece, not a whole 'set'. So, 4 forks, 4 spoons, etc. I ordered spoons and knives, as we've decided to try not to use forks so much. Yesterday at the event I noticed that I mostly used my fork to get the food from the serving dish onto my plate, so I suppose it won't be too difficult a transition. I ordered two sets of each, in case we might give some out as gifts or prizes.

You can see them here: http://www.worldmarket.com/kitchen-tabletop/flatware/Mercury-Flatware-Collection/lev/4/productId/3866/Ne/1100001/Ns/NEW_ARRIVAL_FLAG%7c1%7c%7cCATEGORY_SEQ_2983%7c0/N/1100140/Nty/1/view/10000/index.pro

Also, I spoke with our seneschal and some others about service and appearance and such, and they've agreed to try out having the servers all wear a long white napkin over the shoulder.

I think laver bowls would be cool too, but right now I can't think about it, with Ashfield Fall Festival less than a week away. So, perhaps not this winter, but in the future? I was reading something somewhere (forgot to note it) about how they washed both before and after the meal, which I don't think I've seen at events yet, just the washing before. Has anyone seen this happen?

More later. Off to watch Inspector Lynley!

Comments

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

I noticed that I mostly used my fork to get the food from the serving dish onto my plate,

this niche is generally filled by a "pricker", which is like a very thin knife that is mostly a point, or by a second knife. Knives were often given in pairs. You need one to hold down the food and the other to cut it with :). Of course, knives of the period have very sharp points, and are not rounded as they became after the dinner fork became popular. I have sometimes thought about grinding down some cheap dinner knives to make prickers...

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

Oddly, the service you chose is our every day modern service. We are very happy with it, it is comfortable to use.

oooo

[swanduchess.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the Maroc!
Great find!
Thank you.

knives, prickers

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you! I'd noticed that there were a variety of knives in some of the illustrations. Many years ago I saw a beautiful knife at Pennsic that I dearly wanted, but was out of my price range. The blade was pointed but not flat, diamond cross-section I think, and very well polished. The handle was wood of a light honey golden color, knurled to fit the fingers very comfortably. I thought at the time it would be perfect for serving, but my boyfriend of the time kind of freaked out. He said something about it being the type of blades used by assassins or something. But if I'd had the money, I would have gotten it anyway - beautiful workmanship and felt like it was made for me.

Well, I shall have to keep an eye out for something suitable!

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Good to know they're comfortable to use. And funny that you already have them :) I expect we'll get repros some day, but as my current goal is to show examples of affordable feastware that are reasonable in appearance, these should work well -- generally as people become more acclimated to being in the SCA, they start spending more on the accoutrements of daily life, and often purchase dishes and flatware that are a rather poor fit. Bergenthalers are increasingly more and more interested in having the right look in many areas of medieval life, so I'm hoping to take advantage of that increased interest -- and of course we all go to events held by other groups...

Which reminds me, I should check into proper feastgear for Vikings, as Magnus is constantly working on improving his kit. He knows about jellingdragon of course, but there may be other resources.

Re: oooo

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, lots of cool stuff at this site :)

Welcome.

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

there is also the Portable Antiquities Scheme, and the Jorvik Centre has some lovely things online.
Also aim him at http://www.historiska.se/


There are some utensils out there, I believe most are Roman patterns. There isnt a lot of information about dining habits, though I have some suspicions.

It can be tough to convince people not to invest til they are more alert to the things that will suit well, but so long as one only buys things one truly likes, it all works out.

Viking info

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks!!

washing stuff

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

I've never tried, or seen tried, the washing after the meals, though I believe I've documented it:
http://gallowglass.org/jadwiga/herbs/handwater.html
It sure seems like a good idea.
Lady Hedwigis' daughters may have tried it once, for their table at a feast. I know we did handwashing between the courses for the first Conviencia.

Re: washing stuff

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! I knew you'd done some of this but wasn't going to try looking for the info this week. But since you dropped it in my lap, I posted it to the Bergental list -- we'll see if anyone bites :)