This last year has been a very busy one in the SCA with several of my friends and even my husband receiving a peerage. For those not in the SCA a peerage is the highest level of award you can earn, sort of a life time achievement award if you will. There are a few different types (definitions taken from the SCA Page):
Order of the Rose: Roses are those who served their kingdom by ruling as Queen or Consort. The regalia used by members of the order of the Rose is a wreath of roses (any color).
Order of the Chivalry: Members are recognized for their great skill at arms in combat, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace. Knights swear fealty to the Crown during the knighting ceremony. The regalia reserved for Knights is a white belt, and an unadorned chain (of any color, but typically gold) as a symbol of their fealty. Knights are addressed as “Sir” (name), or for some female knights, “Dame” (name).
Order of the Laurel: are recognized for their great skill in the Arts or Sciences, for their willingness to teach others, and for using their abilities to benefit their kingdom. They are addressed as “Master” (name) or “Mistress” (name). The regalia reserved for members of the order is a laurel wreath, worn about the head or on a garment.
Order of the Pelican: are recognized for great service to their kingdom or to the Society as a whole, usually for many years and without thought of reward. They are addressed as “Master” (name) or “Mistress” (name). The regalia for members of the order is “a pelican in her piety/a pelican vulning itself,” (a pelican piercing her breast to feed her young with her own blood), and a Cap of Maintenance (red, trimmed with ermine; or red, trimmed with white/red drops).
Order of Defense: are recognized for their great skill at rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace, for their willingness to teach others, and for service to the kingdom. They are addressed as “Master” (name) or “Mistress” (name). The regalia for members of the order is a white livery collar and the badge: “Three rapiers in pall inverted tips crossed.”
When someone receives these awards there is usually a ceremony (elevation) and a party (vigil) for them and often they receive gifts from friends and family. These gifts can be small personal items or larger items, but often are heartfelt and meaningful.
Two of my friends who I respect immensely received their Pelican and my husband received his Order of Defense. All three have worked so hard and made a huge impact on their community and other’s around them and I wanted to make something that not only was personalized to them, but also told anyone familiar with the SCA what award they had earned.
This year a friend at the studio Julia introduced me to a more reliable way to throw plates. Plates have been the bane of my throwing existence and up until now I have avoided making them unless it was for a specific set mostly for me as I was embarrassed by my attempts. This new method combining slabs and throwing ensures a more even and compressed base making plates that are more uniform and less prone to cracking. These plates also have the advantage of drying quicker. Using this new technique I decided to make a dish set for each of these individuals. The sets include their personal heraldry and their order’s regalia.
These have all been gifted and the recipients seemed happy with their sets, what do you think of them?
