Thomasguild at a podcast

 At 7 July the Thomasguild woodworkers Bram and Marijn were guests at the historic open air museum in Eindhoven. The manager of the museum Yvonne Lammers conducted an experiment where she lived, cooked, ate and slept for two months in the medieval craftsman house. During that time she kept a diary which can be read online. Each week had a special theme, and experts were invited to discuss the topic of that week. The panel discussions were recorded and made into a podcast (in Dutch language).

The topic of 7 July was medieval woodworking, and experts from university (Roos van Oosten, professor of medieval history at Leiden University), archaeology (Ilse Lange - wood specialist at BIAX and Jeroen Flamman - Vestigia), a professional historic woodturner (Martijn van Gerwen), a professional historic carpenter (Leo Wolterbeek) and re-enactment (Bram and Marijn - making medieval furniture at the St. Thomasguild, and Vincent van Deventer - writer and general guild specialist). We discussed the use of paint, wax and linseed oil, tools for woodworking, turning vessels and the making of 'daubenschale' among others.

Some weeks ago I discovered the podcast of our topic on Spotify. For those that are interested and understand Dutch, this is the link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/663vzEuLxocN1NoFjOm4aC?si=rqtaURHSQI-Z_9aCgooSGQ

Pilgrimage 21

We read about the project Pilgrimage21 of the Company of Saint George, the famous Swiss 15th century re-enactment group and thought this would be a marvellous idea to do some medieval re-enactment during corona times. Worldwide medieval re-enactment groups were encouraged to go on pilgrimage journeys to their local/nearby pilgrimage shrines on the feast of Saint Corona (14 May) and the weekend afterwards (15 and 16 May 2021). Photos and Videos of the preparation and the actual pilgrimage were to be shared on Facebook (CoStG: project Pilgrimage21) and Instagram (#Pilgrimage21).

Saint Corona

St. Corona happened to be a useful saint for the woodworkers as well, being the patron for lumberjacks (as well as with causes involving money, like gambling and treasure hunting). It happened that the lady Corona was martyred because she comforted (Saint) Victor, a Roman soldier who was tortured and killed for his faith. According to the passio of Corona, Corona was bound to two bent palm trees and torn apart as the trunks were released. This supposedly happened around 180 AD, but there is no clear consensus on the date. Around 1000 AD Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor brought Corona's relics to Aachen in western Germany. Her relics were rediscovered during excavation work at Aachen Cathedral in 1910. The relics were removed from a crypt and placed in a shrine inside the cathedral.

Illuminated miniature of the martyrdom of Saints Victor and Corona, on a full leaf from a Book of Hours, France (Paris), c. 1480.

 

 

 

 

Maria of Redichem

We were lucky to have several medieval pilgrimage places nearby: Saint Cunera in Rhenen and Maria of Redichem in Renkum, and somewhat further away the Chapel of Saint Walrick (with the koortsboom)  in Overasselt. We decided to go to the church of Maria in Renkun, as the pilgrimage route is the most beautiful to walk - not much asphalt roads - and conviently was the closest and shortest route. Furthermore, the church is open every day from 9 am to 4 pm, and has a nice rosegarden with a walk along displayed icons.

 

 The statue of Maria of Redichem, dated 1350.

Redichem (or Renkum) is a pilgrims place since 1380 thanks to the statue of Maria in a chapel to which miracle cures were attributed to. The French king Charles VI donated two relics to the chapel: a splinter from the True Cross and a thorn from the Crown of Christ. The chapel also played an important role in the life of Maria of Guelders (Marie d'Harcourt), wife of duke Reinald IV of Guelders. In 1405 she founded a convent for the sisters of Modern Devotion at the place of the chapel. The duke ordered one of the brooks (Molenbeek) to be redirected so the nuns would have a fresh water supply. Maria of Guelders frequently visited the place, for instance in 1407 together with several French courtiers.

In 1585 the convent was destroyed, but some nuns were able to keep the statue of Maria into safety. Then the statue changed hands regularly, until one collector returned it to Renkum in 1928. Now it can be found in the 'Our Lady of the Assumption' church. An embroidered cushion from 1390 that used to reside in the convent is now in the depot of the museum Catherijneconvent in Utrecht. The cushion depicts the Dedication in the temple (Luc.2:22-39).

With silk embroidered linen cushion from the Redichem convent. ABM t2060 Catherijne convent, Utrecht. 57.0 by 71 cm. These cushions were used to place (religious) books upon.

 

Thomasguild's Pilgrimage21 to Maria of Redichem

 

Detail of the Pilgrimage21 Map with Maria of Redichem indicated by the arrow.

The end of the Pilgrimage at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Renkum. 

Thomasguild on local television show 'Buitengewoon'

 

 The recording crew of Omroep Gelderland busy with camera, sound and lightwhile Bram watches the scene.

Last week Wednesday (2 October) we were at castle Hernen for television recordings by Omroep Gelderland, the local television channel. The weekly television show 'Buitengewoon' on nature and cultural heritage focussed this time on the medieval castle, its gardens and the medieval craftsmen inside the castle. Bram and myself were working on the frame of the tresoor for Castle Hernen, while being filmed and interviewed by Harm Edens, presenter of the program. The recordings with us lasted about 3/4 of an hour, but how many minutes eventually end up in the program remains a question for now.   

Presenter Harm Edens enters the scene in the Kemenade of castle Hernen.

This will be resolved next Saturday 12 October when the program is broadcasted (and repeated several times). Afterwards, the program can also be viewed online at 'Omroep Gelderland - uitzending gemist'.

Some close-ups of the woodworking tools are being recorded.

 

 

The frame of the tresoor so far.

The annual meeting of the Dutch crafts and tools association

A different kind of setting than we are used to at the yearly meeting of the Dutch crafts and tools association

Last Saturday the  Saint Thomasguild showed their medieval replica woodworking tools at the annual meeting of the Dutch crafts and tools association (de Vereniging Ambacht en Gereedschap). The club consists of people who are interested in the history and tools of diverse (old) crafts and trades - from woodworkers to dentists. We are also a member of this association. Many members are tool collectors and some have made it their profession as antique tool traders. Many associates are interested in the woodworking trade, and the medieval history of woodworking tools on display attracted much attention. We had interesting discussions and learned new things as well. For instance, the long two-handed saw is called 'opschieter' in Dutch, meaning 'quickie' - a saw that does its job fast (and rough). (when using this 2-handed saw I did not find it quick at all!).

 

The workbench and the toolchest with the braces mounted on the lid.

We mainly showed them four types of tools - medieval planes, medieval saws, medieval axes and medieval braces & augers - but also brought our workbench with a double screw vise. Of every tool we could show the source (archaeological find or image of the tool in a medieval book, on a painting or as intarsia) and explain the choices that had to be made to fill the 'gaps'. 

Our collection of medieval planes under the watchful eye of saint Thomas.

 

 Some medieval axes and an adze.

 

Some photos made during the less crowded time. Most of the time, the room was completely packed with people.

Thongs and Letters

 

Castle Wijchen in grey and wet autumn weather last sunday.

Last Sunday an exhibition opened in castle Wijchen (the Netherlands) on 'Strengels en Letters' - I am not sure how this would correctly translate, but I suppose 'Thongs and letters' will do. The exhibition is on books in the medieval Duchy of Gelre, and how they were made. The 'thongs' or strengels are pieces of parchment that were used in bookbinding for reinforcement of the spine of the book. The exhibition shows that the cliché of that medieval books were written by monks and owned by the wealthy few that could read was wrong. Examples of very cheaply bound (note)books, ledgers, etc. make clear that far more people could read and write than generally assumed.

 

The exhibition will be on display from 11 November 2018 to 10 March 2019.

The exhibition was co-organised by guest-curator Astrid of the medieval craft group the 'Papieren Eenhoorn' (Paper Unicorn). They are often at castle Hernen at the same time our re-enactment group is. Therefore they asked if they could borrow some of our furniture for the display of the diverse medieval book-producing crafts. So we will be 'missing' some of our seats for some months ... One of the other book-production crafts on display is an early book printing press - the Minion press - made by the Dutch Luthier, who is also a frequent visitor at castle Hernen. 

Astrid of the 'Papieren eenhoorn' (Paper Unicorn) gives the opening lecture.

 Bookbinding and writing with two of our chairs. During opening of the exhibition some re-enactors showed their craft.

Thomasguild live on radio at the Engelanderholt

Bram explaining the construction of the klaarbank at the Herenhul during the 'Gelredag'. 

Photo Omroep Gelderland (twitter Ridders van Gelre).

Remember the medieval 'klaarbank' or judicial court at the Herenhul or Engelanderholt on which we did a project for the 'Geldersch Landschap and Kastelen' or GLK (see some previous posts)?  Well we were contacted again by the GLK for this historical place. The local radio and TV channel (Omroep Gelderland) has a ongoing series called 'Ridders van Gelre' ('Knights of Gelre') on the history of our province. This time they made a TV show that featured the medieval judicial court at the Engelanderholt. This TV show is always followed by a live radio event the next Saturday at the premises, where several lectures are given and the site can be visited. We were the most likely candidates to visualize the klaarbank ...

The announcement on the website of Omroep Gelderland for the Gelredag at 

'the most important site of Gelderland during the Middle Ages.

Setting up a 'klaarbank' early in the morning for only a few hours and then dismantling it again is a daunting challenge - in medieval times it took at least 2 weeks to construct it. So what we did instead was making a live-size rope model of the court, which gives a good impression of size and height of the klaarbank. Omroep Gelderland (ridder Rene) was present when we set up the rope model, as well as when the first group of visitors arrived. The GLK provided some staff that helped with the construction, as well as some fresh cut saplings that could be used as stakes. A motor saw was used to cut the saplings at length, while a motor drill was used to dig the holes for the stakes. The layout of the klaarbank, however, was done using medieval tools: a rope with 13 knots (to make a 3-4-5 triangle with a 90 degree edge), a rule and a level. The  klaarbank model was ready before the visitors came; we even had some time for coffee.

 

The live-size rope model of the judicial court. The ropes are at the height of the seating or the platform. The rope ladders show where the stairs are. The stakes at the corners are 4 m high, the height of the walls of the klaarbank.

Clockwise: The side of the klaarbank with the stairs to the platform of the councillors and the Ducal seat. The registrar and the scribe are ready behind the table (with the medieval tools). Katinka with two staff of the GLK next behind the line where the accused stood. Showing the complete size of the klaarbank.

Interestingly, one of the visitors was a local who remembered that the stone at the Herenhul used stand on a different site some hundred meters away, and was moved  to its current place when the nearby motorway A1 was constructed. It appeared that this place was not so historically accurate after all...

Visitors at the Herenhul during the Gelredag. Photo Omroep Gelderland (Twitter Ridders van Gelre).

 

Photo Omroep Gelderland (Twitter Ridders van Gelre).

Omroep Gelderland meets St. Thomasguild at castle Hernen

Last Saturday was 'Gelre'-day for Castle Hernen, with free entrance for the public and a radio reporter of Omroep Gelderland (a regional broadcasting) present with moments of live recording of the event. Also the St. Thomasguild was present and had a brief encounter with the reporter. He especially liked the 'noise' of our hammer - as this showed the listeners that 'real' construction was going on ...

The car of Omroep Gelderland at the entrance of Castle Hernen. 

Our son is carrying the embroidery frame and the 'noisy' hammer.

Left: Bram is busy turning a bowl from a cancerous tumour of a beech tree. 

Right: The radio reporter in action interviewing a visitor.

 

 

I was busy with a new project: a two-seater bench. This will be a larger version of the one in the bottom left corner made many years ago. I am working on the edges of the seating board with a hollow moulding plane.

The end result should look something like this, with openwork tracery. Note that the rose figures are exactly like those used on our hanging cupboard for Castle Muiderslot. 15th century oak bench of Flemish origin. Size 49.1 cm height, 96 cm length. Formerly collection Albert Figdor, now Philadelphia Museum of Art (item 1930-81-5).