Codex Manesse

[Sir Edward]

I figured I'd start a separate thread for this manuscript.

"Die Manessesche Liederhandschrift" is another name for Codex Manesse. I have a copy of that on order, and it should be here any day now. It was created around 1340, and is one of the main period sources of imagery we have that depicts great helms with large crests.

Here's a google search for Codex Manesse images:  www.google.com/search?q=codex+manesse&hl=en&prmd=imvnsb&tbm=isch

The Codex Manesse is the single most comprehensive source Middle High German Minnesang poetry, written and illustrated between ca. 1304 when the main part was completed, and ca. 1340 with the addenda. The codex was produced in Zürich , for the Manesse family.

The poets are depicted with full heraldry, and so the book has a lot of colorful artwork from the early 14th century.

I figure this thread would be a great place to share some imagery, especially as it might pertain to your own kit.

Here are some examples:

[Sir Wolf]

dems purdy. but sometimes those things leave you asking more questions than they show answers for!! hehehe

[Sir Edward]

While looking at some of the images through google, I came across this interesting page in German. Here's a babelfish link to it:

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brandenburg1260.de%2Fruestungen.html&lp=de_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

And untranslated:

http://www.brandenburg1260.de/ruestungen.html

[Sir Edward]

Well, Codex Manesse got here today. It's all in German, so I have no hopes of actually reading any of it. But the imagery is really cool.

On thing I'm noticing is that all of the knights are depicted with mail, long surcoats, and crested great helms. I'm wondering when most of the artwork was done, since the book was supposedly created over several decades.

I'm also noticing that all of the swords have the suspensions that consist of two holes at one end of the belt, and two tails at the other end that tie through. Every single one is like this. In some images the belts are dangling, and in others they've hung the sword off of a peg by the end with the holes.

Dang, I think I need to get a scabbard or two made this way. Too bad I already have scabbards for the two swords most ideally suited for this.

[Sir Wolf]

ah ok so cool i have a suspension done this way. sweet!!! its really not hard at all to make. i made mine. if you get some leather that say 2-3 inches wide and how ever long you want it we can make it. you can even get 2 pieces

[Sir Brian]

Excellent link!

I'm also noticing that all of the swords have the suspensions that consist of two holes at one end of the belt, and two tails at the other end that tie through. Every single one is like this. In some images the belts are dangling, and in others they've hung the sword off of a peg by the end with the holes.

I read somewhere, (I can't remember which book it was) but it stated that particular type of suspension was more popular in eastern Europe and particularly with the Germanic kingdoms. 

[Sir James A]

I'm also noticing that all of the swords have the suspensions that consist of two holes at one end of the belt, and two tails at the other end that tie through.

I'm having a hard time picturing this. Do you mean the belt itself is closed with the dual holes & tails, or the scabbard itself is hung like that?

[Sir Wolf]

[Sir Wolf]

aghhhhhhh come on

[Sir Edward]

I'm having a hard time picturing this. Do you mean the belt itself is closed with the dual holes & tails, or the scabbard itself is hung like that?

Here's an image showing the suspension designed this way, but without the person wearing it:



There are some images in which they're wearing them, some that are sitting like this, and others where they hung it from a peg on the wall by the loop/hole end of the belt.

aghhhhhhh come on

Yeah, they don't allow hotlinking of images. It's a good policy for the most part.

[Sir Wolf]

but it wasnt there image, it was on there page but has put there from another page.

i cant find any good pics of mine and our camera is broken.  there is a how to article somewhere online. thought i posted it somewheres

[Sir William]

I'm having a hard time picturing this. Do you mean the belt itself is closed with the dual holes & tails, or the scabbard itself is hung like that?

Here's an image showing the suspension designed this way, but without the person wearing it:



There are some images in which they're wearing them, some that are sitting like this, and others where they hung it from a peg on the wall by the loop/hole end of the belt.

aghhhhhhh come on

Yeah, they don't allow hotlinking of images. It's a good policy for the most part.

That's the rig I had DBK make for my Albion; I prefer a buckled belt now it seems.  lol

[Sir Patrick]

Don't forget this famous plate 

[Sir James A]

Methinks the heraldry looks familiar, and that someone is having fun with photoshop. Nicely done!

[Sir Edward]

lol, nicely done.