Scribal demonstration and display tips.

One of the good things about demonstrating the scribal arts is, it's not hard to get peoples' attention. Here are a few tips to help you demonstrate and display your talents as a scribe. If you have any more suggestions please let me know and I will be more than happy to post them.

General Tips

Keep your area neat and display items attractively. Place a plain colored piece of cloth, tablecloth or bedspread underneath your display. Not only does it make things look better, it will help keep them where you place them, and not rolling around.

Prop scrolls up on an easel. That makes it easier to see them without touching anything. People can see them from a distance and may approach you just to get a closer look.

You may want to write brief descriptions and set them on the table by the items ...sort of like captions on a picture. Some people may be too shy to talk, you may be busy or taking a break, but people can read the information on their own.

Do not take items that cannot be easily replaced or would upset you if something happens to them. Displaying borrowed materials is not a good idea unless the owner has given you direct permission to use them.

Most people won't ask questions if you are doing calligraphy, but they will if you are illuminating something. Remember to stop often to talk to people. Make it seem like you need a break, or else they may walk away quickly thinking they're keeping you from your work.

You can't possibly know the answer to every question someone asks you. It's OK to admit that. I have been asked some pretty interesting questions that have led me to further research...
...and knowledge.

Things for visitors to look at:

Books

Completed scrolls

Scrolls in progress

Period pigments in raw form - prepared - and painted on something

Laminated pages from Medieval Women calendars

"Can you read this?" with a sample of period calligraphy below it (e.g., the Lord's Prayer written in insular miniscule)

A display of period materials sitting beside a display of the modern equivalents.

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Things for visitors to touch:

Vellum scraps

Rocks

Quills

Prepare some gum amoniac and let people stick their fingers together.

Things for visitors to try:

A simple calligraphy style sheet (to take home), and markers to use there

A page from a coloring book

Writing with a quill

Things to keep you busy:

Have bookmarks with an assortment of first initials printed; you calligraph visitors' names while they watch.

Work on a "project."

Conversation starters:

A piece of gold leaf sandwiched between two pieces of glass

Asking "How many books do you own?"

"Did you know that the word *calligraphy* means beautiful writing?"

The skull and crossbones or poison warning on a bottle of some ground pigments.
** NEVER leave poisonous or dangerous materials unattended on a table !!! **

Discuss where woad (You know...the stuff they put on their faces in Braveheart) really comes from. Woad (or wode) is a plant that is fermented in sheep dung to make a usable pigment.

Talk about period uses for modern things they will recognize...glair, egg yolk tempera, verdigris, yellow ochre pigment.

Cheap stuff for your collection:

Medieval designs coloring books

Medieval Women calendars

Inexpensive exemplars.

Trade color copies of scrolls with other scribes.

Special thanks to Mistress Alicia Langland
for the inspiration for this page and most of the information it contains.

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