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Main => The Round Table => Topic started by: Mike W. on 2014-02-13, 21:36:01

Title: Medieval Tent
Post by: Mike W. on 2014-02-13, 21:36:01
Seeing as tent designs didn't change much between the 11th century and the 19th century, could I probably get away with using a Civil War A-Frame tent at Days of Knights? It looks be very similar in shape and size, as well as being made from plain white canvas.
(http://www.blockaderunner.com/images/tent3.jpg)
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Ian on 2014-02-13, 23:05:11
Tents change drastically from the 11th to 19th century.  An a-frame civil war tent would not be appropriate for a medieval pavilion.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-02-13, 23:15:58
Why? People have been using Wedge Tents (and Wall Tents) since ancient times and they have seen almost no change. Why would it be inappropriate? It's not a Viking A-Frame or Geteld afterall.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Mike W. on 2014-02-13, 23:35:04
I can't afford a pavilion tent and I'm not going to buy one for one event a year. Civil War A-Frames are quite similar to a viking wedge tent.
(http://midwesttent.com/catalog/images/convertible.jpg)

You can barely tell that there's any difference.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Mike W. on 2014-02-13, 23:38:50
They're both plain white canvas, both the same dimension, both have the same door styles, both set up exactly the same way, both are of the same pattern and design. I fail to see why it would be unacceptable.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Ian on 2014-02-14, 00:07:30
I don't know much of anything about Norman tentage.  If you can document a simple wedge for Normans then I suppose it would be fine.  I always pictured those side-opening wedges when thinking about a proper Norman tent.  As long as your tent matches your impression it's perfectly fine. 

This is what the resident Norman at DoK uses:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/10291807283_44ae5ea8a5_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2014-02-14, 00:44:54
and that , is wrong. lol

a norman would use a geteld. it looks like a wedge but the ends stretch out to a point. it also uses a horizontal ridge pole that stretches out further than the material.  a wedge can be found in "viking" time frames. they just have a different system in the pole structures. a wedge, would work for norman, i have seen some groups use them for hospitatler.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-02-14, 01:44:06
Sir Wolf, I was hoping to get a Geteld for my family tent. What is the "When & Where" of it's use?
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2014-02-14, 01:48:14
Geteld shaped tents are found on the oldest available tent images, the C9th Utrecht Psalter and the C12th Eadwine Psalter.


http://www.ydalir.co.uk/crafts/tent/pattern.htm (http://www.ydalir.co.uk/crafts/tent/pattern.htm) make one yourself :)
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Mike W. on 2014-02-14, 01:49:22
In that case, that leaves to either bumming tent space from another, or sleeping in my car
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2014-02-14, 02:02:52
no i would use a cw tent if you have it. i have even seen 16thc groups use them.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir James A on 2014-02-14, 03:23:25
If I remember right, there is space to set up modern tents away from the period tents. So you could still get and use a regular "modernish" style tent, just couldn't have it set up with the rest of the time line. Same as having a modern cot or air mattress or such; not visible during "open" hours, but still viable for use when the public isn't there. The viking style tents that I saw (I think viking, not my period of interest at all) were open on both ends, and had visible frame bits where the top pole came out the front and back too.

Here's a pic from DoK 2012:

(http://www.james-anderson-iii.com/content/events/days-of-knights/frankfort-ky-2012/large/644740_272837036170036_1054868830_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: scott2978 on 2014-02-22, 07:18:10
This Days of Knights event seems fun. Maybe some day I can get all the stuff together to make it out there.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir Nate on 2014-02-24, 20:36:38
Tents have changed. Some used to have a sort of dome at the part and were round
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir Gerard de Rodes on 2014-03-03, 18:33:38
I think you may find something like this is a more authentic Norman style. The main difference between these and a 15th century soldier/campaign tent is the ridge pole is external to the body of the tent in a sort of sleeve along the top.

http://www.gambeson.pl/medieval-on-line-shop/cotton-tents/norman-style-tent-cotton-4x8.html (http://www.gambeson.pl/medieval-on-line-shop/cotton-tents/norman-style-tent-cotton-4x8.html)

G.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Sir Gerard de Rodes on 2014-03-03, 18:36:00
The company that we mostly use here in the U.K. make a nice example too...
http://www.pasttents.com/tents/pre_medieval/saxon_tent (http://www.pasttents.com/tents/pre_medieval/saxon_tent)

G.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Don Jorge on 2014-07-20, 15:41:23
What would be an appropriate tent for 14th century? Also how large would it have to be to hold all my armor a queen size bed and and maybe a chair or two?
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-07-20, 17:20:04
Sounds like you need to hit up Panther Primitives.
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Don Jorge on 2014-07-20, 18:58:04
Yeah I still don't know what style would be appropriate
Title: Re: Medieval Tent
Post by: Ian on 2014-07-20, 19:41:00
By far the most common tent in the 14th century are round pavilions.  What's on the inside is a subject of debate.  There are 4 types of construction I can think of off the top of my head.  Hoop construction far and away looks the best and is easy to transport, but none of the big manufacturers make them, it would be custom.  Rope tension tents have just a center pole and then use weather lines and guy lines to keep the walls up.  Also very easy to transport and looks good when you've got the ropes set up well.  Then you have the spoke wheel setup.  Tons of wood and lots of stuff to transport but looks good when up.  Perimeter polls can also be used, but now you've got even more wood to haul around and they look kinda funky.

I've personally put up hoops, and rope tension round tents, and they're easy.  I own a square tent with perimeter polls, and I'd rather have a hoop or tension round than my square perimeter poll tent.

As far as size, most of the big tent manufacturers make each model in various sizes, so just pick the one with a foot print big enough for what you want to put in it, taking in to consideration whether or not the walls slope.

Some of the common tent makers are:

Panther Primitives (http://www.pantherprimitives.com/)
Midwest Tent (http://midwesttent.com/ps/index.php)
Tentsmiths (http://tentsmiths.com/)

I have personal experience with Panther and Tentsmiths, both are great quality.

Examples:
Hoop construction and center pole:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/14028799426_e7b618c431_z.jpg)

Rope Tension only with just a center pole:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/13207394063_a935c92fef_z.jpg)

Spoke Tent:
(http://tentsmiths.com/wp-content/uploads/pavilion-tent-with-spoke-and-wheel-setup.jpg)