Sources - other books



Medieval (Woodworking) Tools
  • Mercer, H. 1929. Ancient carpenters tools. Dover reprint 2000. ISBN 0-486-40958-9. A book covering mainly the 18th century, but also many earlier examples are given.
  • Heine, G. 1990. Das werkzeug des Schreiners und Drechlers. Th. Schafer, Hannover, Germany. ISBN 3-78870-596-4 [In German]. Excellent book on the history of hand tools of the joiner and turner, with medieval examples.
  • Schadwinkel, H.T. and G. Heine, 1986. Das werkzeug des Zimmermann. Th. Schafer, Hannover, Germany. ISBN 3-88746-070-7  [In German]. Another excellent book on the history of hand tools of the carpenter, with medieval examples. Some overlap with the previous one.
  • Greber. J.M. 1987. Die geschichte des Hobels – von der Steinzeit bis zur Entstehung der Holzwerkzeugfabriken im fruhen 19. Jahrhundert. Th. Schafer, Hannover, Germany. ISBN 3-88746-188-6 [In German]. Marvelous book on the history of the plane. A must.
  • Van der Sterre, G. 2001. Vier eeuwen nederlandse schaven en schavenmakers / Four centuries of dutch planes and planemakers. Primavera pers, the Netherlands. ISBN 90-74310-62-1 [Dutch/English double version] . A history of planes in the Netherlands.
  • Halstead, G. 2003. European woodworking tools 600-1600 C.E. The complete anachonist 121. This small, but invaluable booklet was the start of my extensive library and medieval toolchest.
  • McGrail, S. 1982. Woodworking techniques before AD 1500. Oxford B.A.R.  Conference proceedings with papers on medieval woodworking  and turning.
  • Van Tyghem, F. 1966. Op en om een middeleeuwse bouwwerf. Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie voor Wetenschappen, letteren en schone kunsten, Brussel, Belgium. [In Dutch] A two volume book. Volume one gives the descriptions of the tools and the larger volume two is a collection of pictures of tools from paintings, frescos, engravings, etc. from the 9th to 16th century. I am lucky to be able to read Dutch…
  • Morris, C.A., 2000. Wood and woodworking in Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval York. The Archaeology of York - the small finds 17/13 - craft industry and everyday life. Council for British Archaeology, York, UK. ISBN 1-902771-10-9. This books lists many wooden finds from excavations in York, but also discusses woodworking tools found as well a a large section on medieval wood turning. Very interesting.
  • Goodman, W.L., 1964. The history of woodworking tools. Bell and Hymann Ltd, London, UK.  An interesting book, with (among others) an image of a Roman shaving horse and some early medieval Dutch planes dug up from Frisian terps.
  • Muller, N.E.,  1993. Some medieval Italian tools and techniques. The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, volume 46, issue 4, page 99-108. This interesting article shows some engravings (by C. Lasino, 1812) based on the fresco 'Building of Noah Ark' by Piero di Puccio from the Camposanto in Pisa which was partially destroyed in WW2.  
  • Brisbane, M. and Hather, J (editors). 2007. Wood use in medieval Novgorod. Oxbow Books, Oxford, UK ISBN 9781842172766. This book with photo cd-rom gives a summary of the ongoing excavations of the vast amounts of wooden objects and structures in medieval Novgorod Russia, including an chapter on woodworking tools, with a spokeshave dating from the 11th century. 
  • Vogel, V., 2006. Ausgrabungen in Schleswig - Berichte und Studien 17. Holzfunde aus dem mittelalterlichen Schleswig. Wachtholtz Verlag, Neumünster, Germany. [In German]. ISBN 3529014672. This book contains wooden archaeological finds from Schleswig, including two unusual medieval planes. Furthermore, the construction of the so-called Daubenschale (wooden drinking bowls made by coopers) is explained in detail.
Medieval Jewellery

  • Campbell, M. 2009. Medieval jewellery in Europe 1100-1500.V&A Musuem, London, UK. ISBN 9781851775828. A very good book with many examples in full colour. A must have.
  • Chadour, A.B. and Joppien, R. 1985.Schmuck part I (hals, ohr, arm und gewandschmuck) and Schmuck part II (fingerringe). Katalog der Kunstgewerbemuseum der stadt koln band X. No ISBN. [In German] Catalogue of the museum fur angewandte Kunst with jewelry examples from ancient times to modern, including medieval work. Black and white photographs with a few colour plates.
  • I.B. Barsali.1969.(translated from Italian). Medieval goldsmith's work. The Hamlyn publishing group ltd. No ISBN.Fourth to 15th century gold and silversmiths work, mostly religious and royal pieces.
  • D. Hinton. 1982. Medieval Jewellery. Shire Archaeology 21. ISBN 0 85263 5761. A small book with black and white photos and drawings from pilgrims signs to very elaborated pieces of jewellery. Mostly archeological finds.
  • E.G. Grimme. 1980. Abglanz des ewigen Mittelalterliche Godschmiedekunst. Verlag Karl Thiemig München. ISBN 3-521-04109-3. [In German] Black and white and colour photos of religious goldsmiths work from 800-1500.
  • C. Phillips. 1996. Jewelry From Antiquity to the present. Thames and Hudson Ltd, London ISBN 0-500-20287-7. B/W and colourphotos of actual pieces as well as jewellery on paintings. Chapters on byzantine, early middle ages, middle ages, renaissance, until modern times jewellery.
  • J. Evans. 1989. A history of Jewelry 1100-1870. Dover edition 1989. Dover Publications, Mineola. N.Y.; ISBN 0-486-26122-0. 440 illustrations: drawings (including those of Dürer, Holbein etc.), paintings and actual pieces with good descriptions.
  • W.D. Wixom (editor). 1999. Mirror of the Medieval World. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 0-87099-785-8. All kinds of medieval stuff, including jewellery from 7th century BC to 16th century AD.
  • G. Guadalupi. 1999. Goud, Zilver en Juwelen. Zuid boekproducties, Lisse. ISBN 90-6248-999-0. [In Dutch]. Description of all kinds of gold treasures, including several medieval ones.
  • G. Egan and F. Pritchard.1991. Dress Accessories. Medieval finds from excavations in London. The Museum of London. HMSO, London ISBN 0 11 290444 0. (also with Boydell press). All kinds of jewellery and dress accessories: rings, brooches, buttons, hair pins, etc. from all kinds of materials. Finds from excavations in London.
  • G. Ditmar-Trauth. 1999. Fibel- und Gürtelmode der Hochgotik. Karfunkel. ISBN 3-9805642-3-1. [In German].  Drawings of brooches and belt decorations dating from 1100-1300.
  • The secular spirit: life and art at the end of the middle ages. 1975. A Dutton Visual book, E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc. New York in association with the Metropolitan Museum of art. ISBN 0-525-49507-X. All aspects of medieval life, including jewellery. Catalogue of a exhibition.
  • J. Cherry. 1992. Medieval craftsmen. Goldsmiths. British museum press, London, UK. ISBN 0-7141-2055-3. This little book describes everything related to silver and goldsmithing in medieval times. very informative.
  • E. Viollet-le-Duc. 2003 (1858). Le Mobilier médiéval. Heimdal. ISBN 2-84048-167-7. [In French]. The section on 'Orfèvrerie' has some detailed engravings of gold and silversmiths work.
  • N. Mills. 2003. Medieval artefacts. Greenlight publishing. ISBN 1 897738 277. (Beautiful) metal detector finds assorted per category, including rings and brooches; with price list.
  • F. Veniel. 2008. Le costume medieval de 1320 a 1480. Heimdal ISBN978-2-84-8254-3. A beautiful illustrated book on medieval costume, including 10 pages on jewellery and some pages scattered through the book.
  • C. Entwistle and N. Adams (editors) 2010. ‘Intelligible Beauty’: Recent Research on Byzantine Jewellery. British Museum Research Publications no. 178. British Museum press, London, UK. ISBN 978-086159-178-7. While the main focus is on early medieval jewellery from Byzantium, it has some marvellous later medieval pieces. As a book, but also freely downloadable as pdf from the British Museum.
  • S. Hindham, 2007. Towards an art history of medieval rings. Paul Holberton Publishing, London, UK. ISBN 978-1903470640. Medieval (gold) rings from a private collection placed in perspective. Lavishly illustrated. 
  • S. Krabath and L. Lambacher, 2006. Der Pritzwalker Silberfund - Schmuck des spaten Mittelalters. Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Germany. ISBN 978-3-00-018899-2.. The catalogue of the Pritzwalker silver treasure, which includes jewellery, coins, buttons and brooches, spoons and belt decorations. The book also shows some overview photos of other related treasures. 
  Medieval passtimes

  • Van Egmond, W.S. and Mostert, M., 2001. Spelen in de Middeleeuwen. Over schaken, dammen, dobbelen en kaarten. Uitgeverij Verloren, Hilversum, the Netherlands. Essays on medieval games, with specific Dutch examples. Some authors are a bit sloppy with the correct details of their examples.
  • Willemsen, A., 1998. Kinder delijt. Middeleeuws speelgoed in de Nederlanden. Nijmegen University Press, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. ISBN 9057100614. Child play in medieval times based on archeological finds. Includes a 14th century yoyo (looped slip-string) and a lot of tin soldiers.
  • Volkhardt, U., Stork, H.-W. and Brandis, U., 2011. Nonnen, engel, Fabelwesen. Musikdarstellungen in den Luneburger Klostern. Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim, Germany. ISBN 9783487147147093. Musical instruments depicted on the Luneburger tapestries.
  • Mullers, F., 2001. Les jeux aux moyen age. Editions la Muse, Aubagne, France. ISBN 978-2-9533335-0-3. Rules of various games played in medieval times. 
  • Murray, H.R.J., 1913. A History of Chess. 2012 reprint by Skyhorse Publishing, New York, NY, USA. ISBN 978-1-62087-062-4. The 900 page authoritative book on all sort of chess variants and related games - including medieval ones. A must.
  • Murray, H.R.J., 1952. A history of board games other than chess. Clarendon Press, Oxford, UK. His other book, containing much interesting information on medieval board games. Harder to get your hands on, less pages and more expensive than the History of Chess.
  • Parlett, D., 1992. The Oxford history of board games. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ISBN 978-0192129987. Less extensive than Murray, but more updated and with clearer text. The author sells an electronic version, less expensive than the second hand book.

 Textiles and clothing
  • Drobna, Z. and Durdik, J., 1960. Tracht, Wehr und Waffen des spaten Mittelalters (1350-1450). Artia, Prague, Czechoslovakia. Drawn and coloured plates of clothing and armour based on period illuminations (paintings, sculptures, etc.). Includes horse equipment. The book focusses on the fashion in Bohemia (but it had a great influence on for example England).
  • Kania, K., 2010. Kleidung im Mittelalter. Materialen - Konstruction - Nahtechnik. ein Handbuch. Bohlau Velag, Koln, Germany. ISBN 978-3-412-20482-2. An extensive (PhD) study on how medieval dress was made, with an even more extensive catalogue of all surviving medieval clothing examples (small photos and drawings). I only missed the medieval BH of castle of Lengberg in Austria, as well as head-dresses like the frilled veil. The author also made medieval clothing herself and has a blog on the subject.
  • Thursfield, S., 2001. The medieval tailors assistant. making common garments 1200-1500. Costume and Fashion Press, Hollywood, CA, USA. ISBN 0-89676-239-4. Who can do without this extremely useful book? In our opinion, none. Our clothing is made using the know-how-to-make this outstanding book of an professional medieval tailor. 
  • Veniel, F., 2008. Le costume medieval de 1320 a 1480. Heimdal, Bayeux, France. ISBN  9782840482543. Beautifully full colour illustrated book on all aspects of medieval clothing and reconstructing it. It has a special section on infant clothing. Highly recommended.
  • Veniel, F., 2008. Les hommes du moyen age. Paysans, bourgeouis et seigneurs. Editions Errance, Paris, France. ISBN 9-782877-723732. Re-enactment clothing and accessories of medieval male farmers, artisans and lords. Full colour.
  • Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F. and Staniland, K., 1992/2001. Textiles and Clothing 1150-1450. Medieval Finds from excavations in London 4. The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, UK. ISBN 1-84383-239-9. A technical descriptions of the types of medieval fabric and fastenings found during excavations and their production techniques.
  • Egan, G. and  Pritchard, F., 1991. Dress Accessories. Medieval finds from excavations in London 3.  HMSO, London. ISBN 0 11 290444 0. (also with Boydell press). What you wear on your dress. Finds from excavations in London. 
  • Grew, F. and De Neergaard, M., 1988/2001. Shoes and Pattens. Medieval finds from excavations in London 2. The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, UK. ISBN 1-84383-238-0. What to wear on your medieval foot. Good descriptions of pattens.
  • Lehnart, U., 2000. Kleidung und waffen der spatgotik I. 1320-1370.  Karfunkel Verlag, Wald-Mittelbach, Germany. ISBN 3-9805642-8-2. Half the book focusses on the armour, the other half on the clothing. Some patterns are shown.
  • Lehnart, U., 2003. Kleidung und waffen der spatgotik II. 1370-1420.  Karfunkel Verlag, Wald-Mittelbach, Germany. ISBN 3-935616-11-2. Like the previous book. Several types of gambesons and frilled veils are presented here.
  • Lehnart, U., 2005. Kleidung und waffen der spatgotik III. 1420-1480.  Karfunkel Verlag, Wald-Mittelbach, Germany. ISBN 3-935616-17-1. The book continues from the previous one. Includes an interesting pattern of an armless doublet.
  • Van Buren, A.H., 2011. Illuminating fashion. Dress in the art of medieval France and the Netherlands 1325-1515. The Morgan Library and Museum, New York, NY, USA. ISBN 978-1-904832-90-4. This full colour book follows the upper class fashion illuminated through art. It provides a beautiful overview and gives plenty examples how you would like to dress (if you were a prince).
  • Ditmar-Trauth, G., 1999. Fibel- und Gürtelmode der Hochgotik. Karfunkel. ISBN 3-9805642-3-1. Drawings of brooches and belt decorations dating from 1100-1300.
  • Ditmar-Traut, G., 2005. Rustung, Gewandung und Sachkultur des deutschen Hochmittelalters. Karfunkel Verlag, Wald-Mittelbach, Germany. ISBN 3-935616-16-3. Drawings of early medieval clothing, arms, armour and household goods.
  • Norris, H., 1927/1999. Medieval costume and fashion. reprint by Dover press, Mineola, NY, USA. ISBN 0-486-40486-2. An old book, but still very useful. It also shows a time-line of events, and discusses hair dress, shoes, jewellery, next to the fashion. Many black and white drawings.
  • Zerkowski, W., 2005. Kleidung des mittelalters selbst anfertigen. grundstattung fur den Mann. Zauberfelder verlag, Braunschweig, Germany. ISBN 978-3-938922-03-3.
  • Zerkowski, W., 2005. Kleidung des mittelalters selbst anfertigen. grundstattung fur die Frau. Zauberfelder verlag, Braunschweig, Germany. ISBN 978-3-938922-04-0. Both books are simple how-to-make your clothing descriptions. Though we did use the better Medieval tailors assistant of Sarah Thursfield to make our clothing, these books offer a how to make your aiglets, fingerweaving strings and wearing of head scarves by woman.
  • Goubitz, O.,  2007. Purses in Pieces. Archaeological finds of late medieval and 16th-century leather purses, pouches, bags and cases in the Netherlands. Spa-Uitgevers, Zwolle, the Netherlands. ISBN 9789089320148. Everything on purses and bags, including patterns and how-to-do.
  • Newton, S.M., 1980.  Fashion in the Age of the Black Prince. The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, UK. ISBN 978-0851157672. 
  • Embleton, G. and Howe, J., 2006. Soldnerleben im Mittelalter. (German translation of 'The medieval soldier'). Motorbuch verlag, Stuttgart, Germany. ISBN 978-3-613-02678-0. All aspects of 15th century military re-enactment, including clothing.
  • Embleton, G., 2001. Medieval military costume. The Crowood Press, Ramsbury, UK. ISBN 978-1861263711. Military re-enactment costumes at its highest standards.

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