Daily adventures and other exciting things

BSB finds of the day: Distillery book, Calendars

2008-07-23T12:41:27Z

I'm still getting caught up from being on vacation, but here are a few links to some interesting looking books.

Brunschwig, Hieronymus: Destilierbuch, Frankfurt [ca. 1565] [VD16 B 8730]
A book on distillery with detailed drawings of the equipment and furnaces used in the process. The cover of the book is quite interesting too, as its dark velum with white text!

Bock, Hieronymus: Verae, atque ad vivum expressae imagines omnium herbarum, Straßburg 1553 [VD16 B 6027]
An herbal book, with detailed drawings of plants with their Latin and period German common names

Georgijevic, Bartolomej / Herold, Johannes: Türkey, oder von yetziger Türken Kirchengepräng, Sytten und leben, Basel 1545 [VD16 D 3043]
I think this is a Turkey travel guide for merchants. It has a section containing a Turkish-German glossary, as well as Turkish sentences and German translations. Very interesting.

Regiomontanus, Johannes: Kalender, Straßburg 1532 [VD16 M 6542]

Astrological calendar for 1533.

Goldwurm, Kaspar: Kirchen Calender. Ein Christlich vñ nützlich Buch Jn welchem nach Ordnung gemeiner Calender die Monat Tag vnd die fürnembsten Fest des gantzen jars mit jrem gebrauch Auch der Heiligen Apostel vnd Christlichen Bischoff Leerer vnd Martyrer Glaub Leben vnd bestendige bekantnuß ... kürtzlich verfasset vnd mit schoenen Figuren gezieret ... Caspar Goltwurm Athesinus., Frankfurt/Main 1559 [VD16 ZV 26109]

Church calendar for 1559

Cranach, Lucas (der Ältere) Rhau, Georg: Hortvlvs animae, Mit schönen lieblichen Figuren ; 1547, [Wittemberg] 1548 [VD16 R 1687]
Printed Book of Hours, illustrations done by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

How to make your own rose water

2008-07-14T13:57:44Z

Here's an easy way to make your own rose water at home using kitchen equipment that you probably already own.

How to Make Your Own Rose Water

BSB find of the day: Chess game manual

2008-07-14T13:55:01Z

Schachzabel-Spiel, Oppenheim s.a. [VD16 M 4619]

A chess game manual, dated between 1518-1600.

BSB finds of the day: Saxonia

2008-07-07T15:48:52Z

Krantz, Albert / Faber, Basilius: Saxonia, Weithleufftige, fleissige und richtige beschreibung, der Ankunfft, Sitten, Regiment, Religion, Policeyen, Kriegen, Verrückungen, Vermehrungen, und allerley Geschichten, Hendel und tapfferer thaten der Sachsen, So sich etliche hundert jahr vor Christi geburt,und folgends biß uber das jahr Christi M. D. IIII. zugetragen ..., Leipzig 1582 [VD16 K 2263]

Chronicles of Saxony, as written by Albert Krantz in 1520.

Was Kostung über Herzog Georgs (des Reichen) von Landshut Hochzeit erlaufen 1474-1475 - BSB Cgm 1953, [S.l.] Bayern 16. Jh. [BSB-Hss Cgm 1953]
Costs of the wedding of Herzon Georgs wedding in 1474-1475

Fuchs, Leonhart: Den Nieuwen Herbarius dat is dboeck vanden cruyden int welcke met groote neersticheyt bescreuen is niet alleen die gantse historie dat is die namen ... maer oock alle de wortelen, stelen, bladeren, bloemen, ..., Met drij Tafelen oft Registers waeraf die twee eeste inhouden den naem van alle cruyden ... Inde derde Tafele vindtmen terstont menigerhande medicijnen ende raet tot alle sieckten ..., Basel [ca. 1543] [VD16 ZV 6280]

Leonhart Fuchs' The New Herbal book. Has latin and common names of plants, as well as detailed drawings of the male and female plants.

Alexander / Winter, Johann: Libri duodecim (de arte medica), Basilea 1556 [VD16 A 1784]
The Medical Arts. Also has a very nice parchment binding, the front paste down has come up and you can see the velum strips that were glued down between the thongs for support of the back.

BSB finds of the day: Doctor's book, Wedding Ordinances

2008-07-02T12:56:15Z

Gabelkover, Oswald: Artzneybuch, Tübingen 1589 [VD16 G 15]

A doctor's book for treating various types of wounds. Starts with basic head wounds and covers the rest. Its rather long at 1000+ pages, haven't discovered if there are pictures or if its just mainly text.

Ains Ersamen Raths der Stadt Augspurg Hochzeitordnung, [Augsburg] 1540 [VD16 A 4110]

Wedding ordinances for Augsburg, 1540. Lots of regulations about the food that can be served, dancing and social class regulations.

BSB finds of the day: Plantina and cool book plate

2008-06-30T15:31:13Z

Just two books out of the feed for this Monday

Cookbook of Bartholomew Plantina, Augsburg 1542. Its got a great front plate showing the cook in the kitchen with all his tools.
Platina, Bartholomaeus: Von allen Speysen unnd Gerichte[n] [et]c. Aller hand art künstlich un[d] wol zu kochen, einmachen und bereiten, Dabey eins yede[n] Essens wirckung und natur, zu auffenthaltung menschlicher gesundtheyt. Wie man Wein und Essig wol erziehen, behalten und widerbringen, Auch mit aller hand Kreütern un[d] Specereyenn zu gesundthayt, bereyten und gebrauchen soll. Alles new und ordenlich zusamen gebracht, Augsburg 1542 [VD16 K 2510]

Fruck, Ludwig: Rhetoric und Teutsch Formular in allen Gerichts Händlen, Franckfurt a. M. 1530 [VD16 F 3149]
A forumla book for notaries and scribes, Frankfurt am Main, 1530. The frontispiece has a really great little picture of various scribal tools, including a pen case and inkwell, pens and a pen knife, ruler, string, scissors, packets of something and what looks like a large toothed comb (perhaps used for making lines on paper?), not really sure what the various lumps and other things are.

BSB find of the day: Horologiorum and Field Medicine

2008-06-27T00:31:00Z

Two interesting books today, one in Latin (which I don't read) and one on field medicine, with really cool pictures of performing procedures out in the field! (Most of them aren't gory, promise)

Münster, Sebastian: Compositio horologiorum, in plano, muro, truncis, anulo, concavo, cylindro & variis quadrantibus, cum signorum zodiaci & diversarum horarum inscriptionibus, Basileae 1531 [VD16 M 6651]

No idea what the text says, but its got really cool looking diagrams.

Gersdorff, Hans von: Feldbuch der Wundartzney, Straßburg 1528 [VD16 G 1620]

I thought this was cool because it showed the medical instruments, as well as detailed anatomical diagrams. Its also got some great vignette scenes of them performing field medicine with the battle going on behind them. Nice drawings from a clothing perspective, good attention to detail.

mmcnealy @ 2008-06-25T21:46:00

2008-06-26T01:50:01Z

Dear BSB,
Enough already with the Theology texts, the multiple copies of the same edition of Ars Morbidia, etc. Please put these on the list of things to be digitized next?

These are all from the BSB-Catalog, but not digitized yet, or at least if they are I can't find them.

Titel: ¬Ein new Klaglied eines altenn teudtschen Kriegsknechts, wider die grewlich und unerhörte Pluderhosen, gezottet huet, und gefaltzet Stiffeln
Erscheinungsjahr: [ca. 1550]
Signatur: P.o.germ. 2087 d

Titel: Lands-Ordenung Von ubermessiger Kleidung, Geschmuck und Beköstigung der Hochzeiten, Kindtauffen und anderer Gastereyen halben
Erscheinungsjahr: 1546
Signatur: J.germ. 275 r

Titel: ¬Der Universitet zu Wittenberg Ordnung von kleidung, geschmuk, bekostigung der Hochzeiten
Erscheinungsjahr: 1546
Signatur: 4 H.lit.p. 281,26

Titel: ¬Ein Predig, Von hoffertiger, ungestalter Kleidung, der Weibs- und Mannspersonen
Autor: Osiander, Lucas
Erscheinungsjahr: 1586
Signatur: Res/4 Hom. 1901-52,23

Titel: ¬Des Churfürsten zu Sachssen etc. Und Burggraven zu Magdeburg Lands Ordenung: Von ubermessiger Kleidung, geschmack und beköstigung der Hochzeiten, Kindtauffen und anderer Gastereien halben
Erscheinungsjahr: 1546
Signatur: J.germ. 275 q

BSB finds of the Day: Ordnung - Ordinances

2008-06-26T01:07:10Z

Des Radts der Alten Stadt Magdeburgk Ordnung vbern Ehebruch, Gelübdn, Wirdschafften, vnd Kleidung, Magdeburgk 1544 [VD16 M 137]
Ordinances from Magdeburg, 1544, the ones relating to clothing start on page 30 and the women's on page 34

Is it somewhat scary that I can actually read and understand this text, but can't make heads or tails out of the Zwei Schuaben book?

Bambergische Halßgerichts-ordnung, Bamberg 1507 [VD16 B 256]
Court book from Bamberg, 1507. I believe its a book detailing the punishments for each crime. Its handwritten and the calligraphy is clear and beautiful, but very readable. Its got some really nice color scenes depicting the court and only one slightly gory one towards the end.

Just because I thought this was interesting...
School Ordinances, 1556
Ottheinrich : Schul Ordnung, Wie dieselbige inn des Durchleuchtigisten Hochgebornen Fürsten vnnd Herrn, Hern Ottheinrichs, Pfaltzgrauen bey Rhein, des heiligen Römischen Reichs Ertzdruchsessen, vnnd Churfürsten, Hertzogen inn Nidern vnd Obern Bayrn [et]c. Chur vnnd Fürstenthumben gehalten werden soll, Neuburg an der Thunaw 1556 [VD16 P 2151]

Albrecht : Bairische Lanndtß// 15 ordnung 53 //, Ingoldtstat 1553 [VD16 B 1034]
Bavarian Ordinances of 1553. Quite a wide range of items here from regulations for linen weavers to musicians and Jews, and then just about everything in between. There is a nice index at the back and a table of contents in the front.

[Zweihammer Wappenrock] Diary entry #2

2008-06-23T17:32:54Z

Here's what I did this weekend, worked on the Wappenrock commission!

The project has been progressing behind the scenes for the last month. I'm behind on diary entries, but making the mockup and how much ease I ended up using isn't really thrilling like actual pictures of construction. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Here's the design we ended up going with.

Saturday
Spent about 6 hours ironing, cutting and sewing the skirt together. There are 24 sections, alternating black and red. Each section is made of three parts. This was a lot faster to sew than I thought it would be.
Skirt section pieces

Two skirt sections sewn together

Completed skirt

Sunday
Started piecing the body sections. This is the side front flap. I originally was going to strip quilt a large piece of fabric, and then cut the pieces out of that. But after doing a trial layout, and a sample strip section I realized two things.
1- There would be a lot of wasted fabric.
2- Its really hard to keep the seams even with no rippling over 50" wide material.

So I went with a different approach where I laid out the cut strips over the pattern, gave just a little extra on all sides, trimmed to size and then stitched it. The result is a really nice small section with very little waste. You end up using just about every last square inch this way.

Laying out the strips

Cut to size, with a little extra for sewing takeup

Pattern traced out on quilted section, see how little waste there is this way?

Cut out and mounted to linen backing for stability.

BSB find of the day: Book Illustrations

2008-06-20T11:46:32Z

The theme of the day is book illustrations.

Ars moriendi ©Quamvis secundum philosophum ..., [Leipzig] [ca. 1495/98] [BSB-Ink A-771 - GW 2577]
I believe that this is an illustrated volume of the types of temptations that a man faces while on his death bed. Sort of the medieval version of his life flashing before his eyes?

Von dem sterben ein nützbarlich büchlein, wie ein yder christen mensch recht jn warem christen glaube[n] sterbe[n] sol vn[d] die anfechtung des bösen geystes widersteen, Landßhut 1520 [VD16 S 8184]
A slightly later work on the same death-bed subject. The title page has the nicest illustration.

Almanach, [Augsburg] [ca. 1477/78] [BSB-Ink A-341 - GW 1325]
A nice broadsheet almanach for 1478

Abu-Ma°sar Ga°far Ibn-Muhammad / Johannes : Flores Albumasaris, Augsburg 1488.11.18. [BSB-Ink A-227 - GW 837]
For those of you interested in astrology and astronomy, a period text on the subject, with really nice line drawings of the signs and planets.

Aesopus / Steinhöwel, Heinrich: Fabulae, Sammlung des Heinrich Steinhöwel, [Augsburg] [ca. 1477/78] [BSB-Ink A-70 - GW 352] Aesop's Fables again, but this time the woodcuts have been hand painted in four or five colors. There are several of these Aesop's fables that are painted that the BSB has recently digitized, but this is the nicest one I've seen yet. The scenes are rich in detail and humor.
The binding looks original to me, the leather covering the spine may have been replaced. It probably originally looked like this one from 1483

König, Kilian: Processes und Practica der Gerichts leuffte, nach dem Gebrauch Sechsischer Landart, Leipzig 1541 [VD16 K 1847] The frontispiece on this book is especially nice for the dancing couples and Salome scene.

Ryff, Walther Hermann: Die kleyner Chirurgei, Straßburg 1542 [VD16 R 3916] Another medical book, not as many illustrations in this one though.

BSB find of the day, Aesop's Fables and

2008-06-13T12:31:30Z

Aesopus / Steinhöwel, Heinrich / Brant, Sebastian: Esopus leben vnd Fabeln, mit sampt den fabeln Aniani, Adelfonsi vnd etlichen schimpffreden Pogij. Darzu vßzüge schöner fabeln vn[d] exempeln Doctors Sebastian Brant, Freiburg im Breyßgaw 1535 [VD16 A 549]

This edition of Aesop's fables and Brandt's collection of fables and moral sayings was originally printed in 1501. The little illustrations on just about every page are really well done and quiet intriguing to look at. I have not found an English translation of this specific work yet.

Google translated page on the edition

BSB,

2008-06-11T15:15:03Z

When the rest of the day is going so-so, the research usually goes great

First off, the BSB has an RSS feed of all the new works that they digitize each day. This has turned up some really pretty book title pages, and a few good books

Its also a great place to find interesting book bindings....

Their last 15 digitized books

The Working RSS feeds page is in German only. There is an English RSS feeds page, but the feeds don't work, unfortunatly. You'll want the one labeled "Gesamtliste", or the whole list. There isn't one for 16th century books only, like there is for other centuries.

Today's little goodie from the feed is this
Paracelsus / Bodenstein, Adam von: Drei Bücher Von wunden und schäden, sampt allen jren zufellen, und derselben vollkommener Cur, Des Hochgelarten unnd weitberhümpten Aureoli Theophrasti Paracelsi von Hohenheim, Vormals nie im Truck außgangen, Franckfurt am Meyn 1563 [VD16 P 720]

Or Three books on wounds and sores, written by Paraclesus and Adam Bodenstein, published in Frankfurt am Main in 1563

Doctor dressing wounds in an army camp
Detailed drawing of his tools and the case they are kept in.

Early Modern German Music Sources

2008-06-02T15:00:53Z

Here are two really good sources of period songs from Early Modern Germany, that aren't church songs. Plus, they include the music to sing them and what original text they were gathered from.
Two very nice things considering that they were published in the mid-19th century!

50 Ballads and Love Songs of the 16th and early 17th century, with the old tunes
Fünfzig ungedruckte Balladen und
Liebeslieder des xvi. Jahrhunders: mit den alten Singweisen
By Franz Wilhelm Ditfurth, Published 1877

Review: I really like this book as he gives the original source of the song, what book, where it was published and even the page number! Pretty good documentation for such an old book.

The Historic Folk Songs of the Germans from the 13th to the 16th Century
Die historischen Volkslieder der Deutschen vom 13. Bis 16. Jahrhundert by
Compiled by Rochus Liliencron, Published 1865 -1869
Volume 1: 1243 to 1447
Volume 2: 1471 to 1507
Volume 3: 1507 to 1529
Volume 4: 1530 to 1554

Volume 5: The Tunes and Alphabetical Index

Review: A very through and scholarly set of books. He gives the orginal publication source of the song/poem, historical background behind it, notes on the text, etc. I wish that there was a table that linked the words of the songs in volumes 1-4 with the tunes in volume 5, but there isn't. You either have to hunt through them, or better yet, use the Google search tools on volume 5 to find the name of the song that you are looking for. Other than that slight inconvenience, its a really great resource, and I love that its online and free!

More on The Ship of Fools

2008-05-30T19:06:19Z

Project Gutenberg has an English translation of the text. Main page to download the text

University of Houston has a list of the illustrations, with translated titles and and artist attributions. Why am I not surprised that Albrecht Durer was one of the major artists for this book?

It was originally published in 1494, which makes much more sense than 1512 when you start looking at the women's styles in the illustrations.

Sebastian Brant, Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools), 1512, BSB VD16 B 7067

2008-05-29T11:59:35Z

Sebastian Brant's Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools), was a very influential book in the early 16th century. The illustrations are rich with little details and humor.

Words to live by

2008-05-28T11:43:40Z

From Blather blog

I like to achieve failure rather than let common sense bestow defeat on me. Who knows, maybe I'll accomplish what others think is impossible.

The Loseley Manuscripts:

2008-05-27T20:06:34Z

I didn't find this book, but am merely passing along the find. For you English researchers, this one is a really nice collection of transcribed manuscripts relating to expenses for various entertainments under the court of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth and James.
The Loseley Manuscripts

Setting the house on fire

2008-05-22T00:35:15Z

A while back, rectangularcat, said that she couldn't find a food grade wheat bran that would ferment properly to use for an indigo vat.

Well, I've solved that problem, and nearly started a house fire all at the same time....

It may surprise you all that I do actually research other periods and places besides 16th century Germany, amazing but true!

True confession time, I'm an infovore and I like collecting information. Google Books and I are old friends, especially for interesting reads like Miss Leslie's Lady's House-book; A manual of domestic economy containing approved directions and then she goes on to list just about anything and everything you could possibly want to do in a house in 1850.

One of the things she mentions is making a brick pincushion, and she specifically mentions how it is very helpful in hand sewing long seams. Hand sewing long seams is one of the biggest strains on my hands, having something heavy that I could pin the item to and use that to hold the fabric taut would greatly improve the speed and comfort of hand sewing.

The instructions basically say:
- Take a brick, cover it with fabric
- Make a bag slightly larger than the brick, stuff it with bran until it is hard.
- Sew the bag to the brick
- Sew green baize to the bottom of the brick
- Cover the the whole thing except the bottom with a pretty fabric so it looks nice.

Sounds simple enough, right? What could possibly go wrong?

Bricks, I have plenty of those in the yard, scrap fabric, check. At the advice of my friend at the fabric store, I got some really nice heavy cotton ticking, and left it unwashed. For the green baize, she recommended using green pool table felt.

Everything went fine until I tried to stuff the bag with bran, and the bran was impossible to control. So I decided to get smart, I got the bran damp and then stuffed it in the bag. It packed down nicely then, and I finished up the bag and sewing it to the brick.

I left it to dry out a few days, and then covered it with a red linen that I had around. I wasn't able to finish sewing the cover down all the way because Henry got squirrley, so I left the last 3" for another day.

The next day, I sat down to finish sewing the cover, and I put my hand on the top, and it was *HOT*.
"Oh, its just been sitting in the sun" said I.

Then I realized that the sun hadn't been shining through that window for hours. OOOPS.
I had unknowingly started a fermentation process with the bran when I got it wet. Now it was in an enclosed space, tightly compacted, and composting. It was also producing quite a lot of heat too....

I ripped the stitching off the cover and took the bag off the brick, cut it open and stuck my finger in, man that bran was super HOT! I've heard of compost spontaneous combusting before, so I threw the bag and bran away. I'll try the pincushion again, but with dry bran this time

I guess it was a good thing that I wasn't able to finish sewing the cover all in one day. It would have been pretty, errrm, amusing to call up the insurance adjuster and say "Hi, we had a house fire, it was caused by my pincushion"

ArtRage 2

2008-05-16T11:28:02Z

http://www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html

I read about this new painting program today, and it looks like a great tool, and even reasonably user friendly.

[Zweihammer Wappenrock] Diary entry #1

2008-05-15T23:38:37Z

At the end of April, I was contacted by Baron Erich of Zweihammer Armory about making him a wappenrock for an upcoming ceremony. He is the Baron of the SCA group I played with while out in California for several years, and I was thrilled to be asked. As my schedule had opened up, I was able to take on the commission.

I asked him if I could keep a public diary of the project as I went along and he thought it would be a great idea.

As he is progressing towards a more period appearance, he wanted something documentable, that he could wear without needing to explain anything, yet he wanted the German flash and over-the-top appearance that he sees on the German guilds in California. He also wanted to be able to wear it over armor and without, and have his device embroidered on one sleeve.

Here are his arms set inside the double headed HRE eagle.

I decided to present him with seven different designs, ranging from designs based on the Livery books of the Duke's of Saxony to designs based on tourney wear.

These two are pretty much the same, just some slight differences in sleeve treatment.
1 –CGM 1951 pg, 58, Dated 1515
2- –CGM 1951 pg, 82

3- Cgm 1951: pg 18 This one would have ribbons, in his heraldic colors, sewn in the dips of the folds.

The following are more in a tourney style:

4- Drawn from CGM 1951 pg, 58
Colors would be red and white, like the shield, or red and black.

Division is based on the yellow/black rider in the Gesellen-Stechen tourney of the Patrician families of Nuremburg, in 1561
Although it is not possible to see if the design on the chest of the rider matches the design of his helpers, as the skirts are the same design, it is a strong possibility. As you can see in this tourney from Nuremberg in 1511, BSB Cod Icon 398 p 30r the rider and the helpers have the same design on the rock.

5 – Drawn from CGM 1951 pg, 58

Colors would be red and white, or red and black.

Division is based on the vertical stripes seen in
this tourney from Nuremberg in 1511, BSB Cod Icon 398 p 30r

6 – Drawn from CGM 1951, p 32
Colors would be red and white or red and black.

Division is based on this picture from the Augsburg murals, 1520’s

7- From BSB Cod.icon. 403 p. 16r The guy on the right in blue.
Rock would be in Red, with bands on neck, sleeves and skirt. I’d suggest either gold or black to really make it pop!

Of the 7, #4 was definitely my favorite from the moment I completed the drawing, it just has that pizzazz to it.
Erich thought so too, and asked for a few changes, so this is the design I sent him last night. I haven't heard back what he things of it, but I think the upper sleeves need a little *something* more.

This is going to be such a fun project! I can't wait to get started. :)

Funny quote for the day

2008-05-06T15:28:26Z

For my birthday last month I was given an Amazon gift certificate, and I used it to buy several interesting research books, one of them came today.

Manifestations of Discontent in Germany on the Eve of the Reformation,by Gerald Strauss

Its a collection of writings from the period of 1430-1530, and includes sermons, poems and proclamations about a variety of topics. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in Early Modern Germany, it contains some real gems.

But now for the fun quote from the book,
From the Chronicles of Sebastian Franck, 1531, p 215-218
Concerning the Arrival of Two Plagues in Germany in the Time of Emperor Maximilian. To Wit: The Terribile Affliction Called "The French Disease" And the Destructive Landsknechte

"The same emperor's reign also witnessed the arrival of that useless breed of men called Landsknecht, a plague upon our land which invades us uncalled for and uninvited, seeking and causing war and visiting misfortune upon us all. Landsknecht are not citizens who respond to their lord's call to war. Such citizens are proper soldiers and loyal militiamen. They do what they are obliged to do out of a sense of duty and obedience, not gain. For Landsknecht, on the other hand, I find no excuse or justification, seeing that they are an unchristian, cursed tribe whose trade consists of gouging, stabbing, pillaging, burning, murdering, gambling, drinking, whoring, blaspheming, willfully killing husbands and fathers, persecuting peasents in war and peace, stripping fields and demanding tributes. They are harmful not only to others, but also to themselves. In truth, they are a plague and pestilence on the whole world. "

The port and trade of early Elizabethan London

2008-05-05T21:26:48Z

From the British History Online site
The port and trade of early Elizabethan London
Sample listing:

781. Edward of Milton (60) William Harison; Antwerp

[f. 241b] John Jackman: 24 cwt Castile soap, 150 lbs ginger £29 5s (31 Aug 1568). William Cockin: 600 foin tails, 20 mantles foin potes, 33 pair 'vents' £28 10s (1 Sept). James Harvie: 3½ doz. whip-saws, 1 doz. tenonsaws £5 11s 8d. William Hobbs: 974 ells hair tapestry, 16 pcs white blanket, 3½ doz. sealed carpets, 2 doz. blue lince, 1 last rape oil £63 5s. John Spencer: 100 bundles brown paper £3 6s 8d. William Gifford: 6 cwt unwrought flax £3 6s 8d. John Flower: 16 cwt estrige wool £13 16s 8d. Edward Bright: 8 doz. carpenter's saws, 8½ cwt iron pans £8. Thomas Gardiner: 1 cwt gunpowder, 50 bundles brown paper, 4 cwt aniseed, 200 lbs pepper £25 6s 8d. William Towerson: 750 ells wool tapestry, 16 doz. Ghentish carpets, 1 doz. cushion cloths, 6 cwt feathers £72. Roger Warfild: 2 brls argol, 1 cwt candy, 400 lbs matches, 18 cwt soap, 6 cwt almonds, 100 bundles brown paper, 6 cwt starch £43 10s. Alexander Sherington: 3 bales Ulm fustian £45. Thomas Brasie: 106 pcs unwatered camlet, 2 bales Ulm fustian £151. William Colles: 48 cwt madder, 8 cwt hops £36. Edmund Smyth: 2 bales Ulm fustian £30. Robert Taylor: 24 cwt madder, 6 cwt hops £19. John Borne: 10 doz. lbs pack thread, 6 grs thread points, 3 doz. coarse crewel pieces, 1 doz. lbs inkle, 4 doz. thou. pins, 1½ thou. thimbles, 12 thou. awl blades, 3 doz. lbs counters, 1 grs coarse hour glasses £16 10s. John Lambert: 72 cwt flax £48. John Car: 1 half-brl small nails, 4 hd iron plates, 8 doz. small candle plates £9 6s 8d. James Harvie: 17 cwt black latten £11 6s 8d. William Perrie: 90 lbs nutmegs £15. Robert Brook: 6 cwt hops £3. Nicholas Hewet: 13 brls rape oil, 12 pair andirons with 12 tongs 12 fireshovels, 18 cwt ton-flax £34 (2 Sept). William Hewet: 13 brls rape oil £16. Robert Exton: 5 cwt madder, 3 nests empty chests, 40 Turnhout ticks £18 13s 4d. Arthur Hall: 1 ton 'ames' iron, 1 half-brl head nails, 100 doubles, 4 cwt fireshovel plates £13. Roger Knot: 16 cwt battery £32. Thomas Eaton: 15 grs halfpennyware glasses, 3 grs thread-lace, 3 doz. thou. pins, 1 doz. lbs curtain rings, 6 thou. awl blades, 5 doz. lbs inkle, 2 doz. crewel pieces, 1 brl latten £29 1s 8d. Ancelm Becket: 6 cwt flax £6. Thomas Castlin: 2 packs flax £16. Hugh Bradborne: 90 cakes resin £15. Anthony Fytton: 4 brls yellow ochre £2 13s 4d. Richard Billam: 18 Turnhout ticks £14 13s 4d. Roland Erlington: 120 doz. thou. pins £20. Henry Smyth: 63 lbs Spanish silk, 12 doz. thou. pins £65 (3 Sept). Phillip Watkins: 30 lbs satin silk, 80 lbs ferret silk £66 13s 4d. William Sherington: 50 lbs ferret silk, 80 ells sarcenet £34 3s 4d. John Pasfield: 7 cwt iron wire £11 13s 4d. John Spencer: 50 bundles brown paper, 40 lbs thread £2 6s 8d. Francis Wootton: 60 ells sarcenet, 30 yds satin £23 10s. Robert Taylor: 3 pcs stammel £30. William Martin: 192 butts thread, 10 pcs watered camlet £19 3s 4d. Edmund Hugan: 80 half-pcs Genoa fustian £26 13s 4d (4 Sept). John Taylor: 3 bales Ulm fustian £45. Geoffrey Goffe: 250 ells hair and flax tapestry, 8 doz. lince £14 6s 8d. Robert Lence: 6 cwt wrought flax £6. Sir William Chester: 75 cwt madder £50.

Lots of interesting textile items in this list, like what is ferret silk?

If you are looking for a record of a particular commodity, you can look it up in the Commodity List and use that to find the item you are looking for.

A list of their 16th century documents

Hemp Canvas

2008-05-05T00:25:06Z

Oh, and for my living history friends who always wanted real unbleached linen canvas, Dharma carries 100% hemp linen canvas, $14.95 a yard

Silk Ribbon and Chains

2008-05-05T00:18:43Z

Sounds like the title of some slash fiction or bodice ripper in the grocery store, but no, its just me telling you about a couple of different sites for ribbon.

Since I can't find silk satin ribbon in the stores here, I'm guessing others can't as well. I was first introduced to it in Seattle, and have wanted a source for it since. Thank goodness for Google!

Silk satin ribbon, 9mm - 50mm wide, $1.59- 4.98 a yard

Dharma carries silk habotai ribbon by the yard , and silk sewing thread by Gutterman

Dharma also has a nice selection of cotton lace which I shall have to remember if I ever want to make Victorian somethings.

M&J Trimming also carries some chains by the yard that would work really well for replicating the chains seen in German portraits 16mm chain, 17mm chain