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Making a 13th-14th century leather belt
scott2978:
--- Quote from: Sir Aiden on 1974-06-01, 19:37:41 ---Since it seems that these places for the pewter stuff will take...
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Two points I'd like to make:
In medieval times, the people of high social status believed that substance was everything. A rich man wore gold, silver, latten, steel or iron (in that order) but probably not pewter. You'd probably not find a noble or knight wearing pewter belt mounts. While pewter was used from at least as early as the 1230's for belt mounts, it was worn by those of lesser standing, like an accomplished tradesman or craftsman, but probably not by people of even lesser standing nor most of higher standing.
The second thing I want to say is that you can pretty much ignore that in your recreations. While all that and much more can be truthfully said, in the words of a knowledgeable man "You'd need a king's purse to dress like a king." For us, it's probably best to know the truth, but dress more within our means. You don't really want to walk around wearing solid gold belt mounts... do you? For many reasons that's not a good idea. So for most of us, the best balance is to choose brass and pewter. Brass is close enough to the look and composition of gold and latten and pewter (just like 800 years ago) is close enough to silver. These won't cost thousands of dollars, and even better they (probably) won't get you mugged.
Scott
scott2978:
If anyone is more interested in the history of medieval belts, the girdlers that made them, the smiths, goldsmiths and the triflers that made the mounts and buckles, the tanners and curriers that made the leather, and the politics and economics of it all, I could post at length about it. Holding a medieval belt in your hands represents the work of half a dozen skilled craftsmen.
Aiden of Oreland:
--- Quote from: scott2978 on 2014-02-27, 22:53:36 ---If anyone is more interested in the history of medieval belts, the girdlers that made them, the smiths, goldsmiths and the triflers that made the mounts and buckles, the tanners and curriers that made the leather, and the politics and economics of it all, I could post at length about it. Holding a medieval belt in your hands represents the work of half a dozen skilled craftsmen.
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Who can complain about a bit more knowledge?
Sir Douglas:
--- Quote from: scott2978 on 2014-02-27, 22:53:36 ---Holding a medieval belt in your hands represents the work of half a dozen skilled craftsmen.
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That is something that's particularly appealing to me about this time period. Or I suppose any period before the Industrial Revolution, really. You didn't just run down to Wal-Mart and pick out some mass-produced trinket that was stamped out on a machine. Everything was touched by human hands, and even identical items still had their own uniqueness about them. One profession relied on so many others. It's an interesting sort of web, and it just fascinates me how it all worked together to create a piece of armor, or a sword, or something as lowly as a little belt.
I guess you do still have that web today to a certain extent, but I don't know...it just doesn't seem quite as "magical" to me.
Aiden of Oreland:
--- Quote from: DouglasTheYounger on 2014-02-27, 23:24:41 ---
--- Quote from: scott2978 on 2014-02-27, 22:53:36 ---Holding a medieval belt in your hands represents the work of half a dozen skilled craftsmen.
--- End quote ---
That is something that's particularly appealing to me about this time period. Or I suppose any period before the Industrial Revolution, really. You didn't just run down to Wal-Mart and pick out some mass-produced trinket that was stamped out on a machine. Everything was touched by human hands, and even identical items still had their own uniqueness about them. One profession relied on so many others. It's an interesting sort of web, and it just fascinates me how it all worked together to create a piece of armor, or a sword, or something as lowly as a little belt.
I guess you do still have that web today to a certain extent, but I don't know...it just doesn't seem quite as "magical" to me.
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I agree completely. But realistically those objects were also more expensive and armor you and I are wearing today is practically a third of the price. When we think custom hand made armor, we think it is incredibly expensive when in fact that is how everything used to be made and it was that expensive. Even clothing was a privilege. Hand made, specifically designed for your body. People didn't own the amount of clothing we do now. This is one of the reasons clothing could show social class.
It makes me think about a lot of stuff made today. Our ancestors built things to last the ages. Things in a sense unable to be replicated. All of this was built by hand for the most part. In fact practically everything was and I think a problem about today is that we under estimate our for fathers in their skill. People believe aliens gave us the technology to be able to do what we did. I think its pure rubbish.
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