Everyone aboard the spice train

The Spice Must Flow

This is another example of why I wish I had more talent so that I could make one of these. This is a spice cellar currently in the possession of The Walters Art Museum (54.2501) and dates to around 1400.

This spice cellar, made to hold precious seasonings at the table, is of a typical northern European design. Major trade commodities in ancient and medieval times, salt and other spices were used both to preserve meat and to enhance the flavor of all types of food (often not very fresh). Some spices came from Asia and were very expensive. This whimsical container, in the form of a little ship on wheels, could be rolled from one guest to another.

This could have held salt in one half of the ship and ground pepper in the other half. This most likely was not made for major royalty, the details from the Museum does not list a maker or an original owner, but it appears to me that this spice cellar was not as valuable as some of the spices that it might have once held (again, the Museum does not indicate if any traces of spices were found in it during its two cleanings). The cellar is made of bronze and it very nicely made, but it is not on the high end of such items that have survived.

Certainly this was made for someone with wealth, most likely someone in the top 2% of society, but it doesn't appear as fancy as what was commissioned by the top rung of wealth. A cellar, such as this, and the spices to put into it, would have been out of the reach of most of the 15th century, European inhabitants. But if this was the Jaguar of spice cellars, let me show you an example of a custom made Bently:

This is one of the finest examples of Baroque metalworking in the world. This is a solid gold salt cellar, on a base of ebony, sitting on ivory bearing, made by Benvenuto Cellini in 1543 for France's Fancois I and it is a masterpiece. See this link for physical details and this one for pictures of it. It depicts "Terra e Mare": The god of the sea and the goddess of the earth. Next to the god, on the back of this image, is a goblet to hold salt (from the sea) and a hidden compartment in the temple, next to the goddess, held pepper (from the earth). 

We might never know who owned the little, bronze, wheeled ship, or who made it, but I think I can say that it wasn't a king. Or a doge, or a pope, or a cardinal, or a prince. It might have been for a baron, or a wealthy knight. Perhaps an abbess from a small abbey. Someone with enough wealth to show off, but not enough to afford gold.

Also, these salt cellars, or spice cellars, weren't just about the cellar; they were about the salt and the spices that they held. I find it most amusing that we take for granted perfectly uniform, bright white salt crystals and pay extra for "impure" salts because we like their colors: pink salt from the Himalayas; red and black from Hawaii; blue from Persia; gray from France. When these two cellars were made, white salt was prized above all else and reserved for the tables of the most important (i.e.: wealthiest) people. Colored salt was filled with impurities that were fine for the lower classes, but the upper crust? Never. Salt cellars, or nefs, were a way of showing off one's wealth. Not only does it show that you can afford the best salt, but you can afford a tchotchke to put it in. If it was on wheels, even better. If it had hidden compartments, bonus.

The Female Highway Hector

Highway Robbery

This is a broadsheet from 1690, currently held by the National Library of Scotland (Shelfmark: Crawford.EB.1398)

A Hector, according to the OED is "Late Middle English: from the Trojan warrior Hector. Originally denoting a hero, the sense later became ‘braggart or bully’ (applied in the late 17th century to a member of a gang of London youths), hence ‘talk to in a bullying way’."

The Female Highway Hector: an account of a woman who was lately arragn'd for robbing on the high-way in man's apparel: Containing, A  Relation of feveral notes Exploits which she  perform'd in that bold Undertaking.

To an excellent new Tune called The Rant.

You Gallants of every Station,

     give ear to a Frollicksome Song;

The like was ne'er seen in the Nation,

  'twas done by a Female so young.

She bought her a Mare and a Bridle,

     a Saddle, and Pistols also,

She resolved she would not be idle,

     for upon the Pad she did go. [1]

She Cloathed herself in great Splendor,

     for Breeches and Sword she had on,

Her Body appear'd very slender;

     she show'd like a pretty Young-man.

And then like a Padder so witty, [2]

     she mounted with speed on her Mare;

She left all her Friends in the City,

     and steered her Course towards Ware.

The first that she met was a Grocer [3]

     was walking with Cane in his Hand,

She soon to the Spark came up closer, [4]

     and boldly she bid him to stand.

She took from him but a Guinea, [5]

     and then met a Taylor with Shears, [6]

And because the poor Rogue had no Money,

     she genteely clipt off his Ears.

The next that she met was a Tanner.

     for loss of his money he cry'd,

And because he bauld in this manner, [7]

     she handsomely tanned his Hide.

She rode about seven-miles farther,

     and then a Stage-Coach she did Rob;

The Passengers all cry'd out Murther: [8]

     but this was a Fifty-pound Jobb.

And then she robb'd a Welsh Miller,

     she fac'd him and gave him the Word:

Hur splutter'd, and swore hur would kill hur, [9]

     if that hur had got but hur Sword.

And then she came up with a Quaker,

     she told him, she must have his Coin:

Quoth he, Thou silly Wise-acre

     thou shalt have no Money of mine.

She show'd him a Pistol to prove him;

     he told her by Yea and by Nay,

That since the good Spirit did move him,

     she might take his Money away.

An Excise-man, she then next accoasted [10]

     and bid him Deliver with speed;

He often of Valour had boasted,

     but he was a Coward indeed.

She Rifled him then of his Money;

     oh! this was a very rich Prize,

She took from him Four-score Guineys,

     which he had receiv'd for Excise.

The next that she met was a Padder,

     well mounted upon a bay a Nag;

Oh! this made her so much the gladder,

     she told him she wanted a bag.

He thought she would certainly fight him,

     prepared himself out of hand:

And she was resolved to fright him,

     she damn'd him, and bid him to stand.

He presently drew out his Rapier

     and bid her to stand on her guard;

But quickly away she did Caper.

     the High-way-man, follow'd her hard.

He follow'd and soon overtook her,

     and searched her Breeches with speed;

And as he did well overlook her,

     he found her a Woman indeed!

The High-way-man stood all amazed;

     but she had no cause to complain.

Tho' with her he did what he pleased,

     he gave her the Money again.

     

Printed for C. Bates at the White Hart in West-Smithfield. 

Notes pertain to the 17th century.

[1] Pad - Slang term for robbery along a foot pad, or open road.

[2] Padder - Short for Rum-Padder: A highwayman; especially a well-equipped one. 

[3] Grocer - a trader in dry goods, particularly spices.

[4] Spark - Perhaps referring to a torch or a lantern. 

[5] Guinea - Coin of approximately one quarter ounce of gold or 20 shillings.

[6] Taylor - Tailor. 

[7] Bauld - Bawled, cried like a child.

[8] Murther - an archaic word for murder.

[9] This is probably making fun of a Welsh accent.

[10] Excise-man - a government agent whose function was to collect excise (import, export, transportation taxes) and prevent smuggling.

I feel the need.... the need to smear

Starting another three scrolls.

I haven't touched any scrolls in a while. I haven't had any assignments and I've been in such a blue funk that I just haven't had any desire to do anything. The other day, I found a nice image online that sparked my desire to make an artistic mess. However, I was too down, and too lazy, to print out the image so that I could trace it. So, to work myself up for it, I pulled out three images that I have done in the past, and started working on them, tonight.

Just a side note, if you trace your images, like myself, keep the images so that you can do them again. I have a couple of interoffice envelopes filled with every design that I've done, ones I haven't done, and ones that I've screwed up but might want to try again, later.

I like to work on multiple scrolls at once; that way I can keep busy while the paint dries. I like to start off with gold, 'cause it's shiny. No other reason.

I think that I might paint half of a Golden Alce on the shield in the 'R'. I still don't have any assignments, but I might get one for a Golden Alce and it's nice to have blanks on hand.

Japanese armor makers are awesome

Does my helm bug you?

Japan, Dragonfly-shaped helmet, 17th century, iron, lacquer, wood, leather, gilt pigments, silk, papier-mâché. The James Ford Bell Foundation Endowment for Art Acquisition and gift of funds from Siri and Bob Marshal, 2012.31.1a-c

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts acquired this beautifully crafted helm a few years ago. The design was to help the samurai wearing it stand out on the battle field. The helmet is iron with lacquered papier-mâché over a wooden framework. The wings are made of wood.

I wish that I had the skill to make something like this.

Complaint about delivery of the wrong grade of copper.

Immortality by any means.

The British Museum has a 3700+ year old clay tablet that is the world's oldest complaint letter. Found in the ruins of Ur, in 1953, it has survived intact and relates a complaint from Nanni to Ea-nasir about inferior copper. Ea-nasir will live forever as a cheat and a bad businessman. References around the Internet tell that Ea-nasir had a room with multiple such complaints, although I was unable to find credible confirmation of other tablets.

The text of the tablet is as follows:

    Tell Ea-nasir: Nanni sends the following message: 
When you came, you said to me as follows : "I will give Gimil-Sin (when he comes) fine quality copper ingots." You left then but you did not do what you promised me. You put ingots which were not good before my messenger (Sit-Sin) and said: "If you want to take them, take them; if you do not want to take them, go away!" 
    What do you take me for, that you treat somebody like me with such contempt? I have sent as messengers gentlemen like ourselves to collect the bag with my money (deposited with you) but you have treated me with contempt by sending them back to me empty-handed several times, and that through enemy territory. Is there anyone among the merchants who trade with Telmun who has treated me in this way? You alone treat my messenger with contempt! On account of that one (trifling) mina of silver which I owe(?) you, you feel free to speak in such a way, while I have given to the palace on your behalf 1,080 pounds of copper, and umi-abum has likewise given 1,080 pounds of copper, apart from what we both have had written on a sealed tablet to be kept in the temple of Samas. 
    How have you treated me for that copper? You have withheld my money bag from me in enemy territory; it is now up to you to restore (my money) to me in full. 
    Take cognizance that (from now on) I will not accept here any copper from you that is not of fine quality. I shall (from now on) select and take the ingots individually in my own yard, and I shall exercise against you my right of rejection because you have treated me with contempt.
-Letters from Mesopotamia : Official, Business and Private Letters on Clay Tablets from Two Millennia " by A. Leo Oppenheim. p82-3

I find it interesting that most history books only deal with big events: wars and battles; coronations and despoilments; floods and famine. Real history can be just as much about the tiny details as the great ones. This complaint letter would not be out of place on the product comments on Amazon, or in the letters to the editor in a newspaper. Historians tend to lose sight of the fact that people in antiquity were just as much human as ourselves: not statistics but living, breathing people with hopes, desires and the will to complain about the same crap that we do, today.

The Greatest Curse in the English Language

The Excommunication of Common Traitors, Reavers and Thieves

In 1525, the Archbishop of Glasgow, Gavin Dunbar, issued one of the best curses ever uttered in the English language. The curse was directed towards the large numbers of robbers and highwaymen causing havoc on the border of England and Scotland. The curse was part of the mass excommunication performed by the Archbishop.

"It was during this period of weakness, almost of total moral collapse, that the Archbishop of Glasgow took it upon him to excommunicate the Border thieves. Had the same vigorous measure been adopted at an earlier period, the result might have been more favorable. As it was, the launching of this ecclesiastical thunderbolt really created more amusement than consternation. It was regarded simply as the growl of a toothless lion. In no circumstances were the Border reivers easily intimidated. Their calling had made them more or less indifferent to the claims of Church and State. They had never had much affection for the king, and they had, perhaps, still less for the priest. Having shaken themselves free, to a large extent at least, from the control of the State, they were not prepared to put their neck under the yoke of an ecclesiastical authority which even the best men of the age had ceased to venerate. But the Archbishop felt that he had a duty to discharge, and he applied himself to the task with commendable vigour. The curse was ordered to be read from every pulpit in the diocese and be circulated throughout the length and breadth of the Borders.
- Robert Borland, minister of Yarrow. Border Raids and Reivers. Dalbeattie: Thomas Fraser 1898 

In modern English, the curse is as follows:

    Good folks, here at my Lord Archbishop of Glasgow’s letters under his round seal, direct to me or any other chaplain, making mention, with great regret, how heavy he bears the piteous, lamentable, and dolorous complaint that passes all of our realm and comes to his ears, by open voice and fame, how our sovereign lords true lieges, men, wives and children, both and redeemed by the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, and living in his laws, are innocently part murdered, part slain, burnt, harried, spoiled and robbed, openly on day light and under silence of the night, and their farms and lands laid waste, and they are self banish therefore, as well church lands as others, by common traitors, reavers, thieves, dwelling in the south part of this realm, such as Teviotdale, Eskdale, Liddiesdale, Ewesdale, Nithsdale, and Annandale; which has been diverse ways pursued and punished by the temporal sword and our Sovereign Lords authority, and dreads not the same.

    And therefore my said Lord Archbishop of Glasgow has thought expedient to strike them with the terrible sword of holy church, which they may not long endure and resist; and has charged me, or any other chaplain, to denounce, declare and proclaim them openly and generally cursed, at this market cross, and all other public places.

    Herefore through the authority of Almighty God, the Father of heaven, his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of the Holy ghost; through the authority of the Blessed Virgin Saint Mary, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and all his angels; Saint John the Baptist, and all the holy patriarchs and prophets; Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Andrew, and all holy apostles; Saint Stephen, Saint Laurence, and all holy martyrs; Saint Gile, Saint Martin, and all holy confessors; Saint Anne, Saint Katherine, and all holy virgins and matrons; and all the saints and holy company of heaven; by the authority of our Holy Father the Pope and his cardinals, and of my said Lord Archbishop of Glasgow, with the advice and assistance of my lords, archbishop, bishops, abbots, priors, and other prelates and ministers of the holy church, I DENOUNCE, PROCLAIMS, AND DECLARES all and sundry the committers of the said of innocents murders, slaughters, burning, inheritances, robbery, thefts, and spoilings, openly upon day light and under silence of night, as well as within temporal lands as church lands; together with their part takers, assisters, suppliers, knowingly and of their persons, the goods snatched and stolen by them, art or part thereof, and their counselors and defenders, of their evil deeds generally cursed, waking, aggravated, and re-aggravated, with the great cursing.

    I CURSE their head and all the hairs of their head; I CURSE their face, their eyes, their mouth, their nose, their tongue, their teeth, their skull, their shoulders, their breast, their heart, their stomach, their back, their womb, their arms, their legs, their hands, their feet, and every part of their body, from the top of their head to the sole of their feet, before and behind, within and without. I CURSE them going, and I CURSE them riding; I CURSE them standing, and I CURSE them sitting; I CURSE them eating, I CURSE them drinking; I CURSE them walking, I CURSE them sleeping; I CURSE them rising, I CURSE them lying; I CURSE them at home, I CURSE them from home; I CURSE them within the house, I CURSE them without the house; I CURSE their wives, their children and their servants who participate with them in their deeds. I Worry their corn, their cattle, their wool, their sheep, their horse, their swine, their geese, their hens, and all their animals. I Worry their houses, their rooms, their kitchens, their stables, their barns, their byres, their barnyards, their cabbage patches, their plows, their harrows, and the possessions and houses that are necessary for their sustentation and welfare. All the bad wishes and curses that ever got worldly creature since the beginning of the world to this hour might light upon them. The malediction of God, that lighted upon Lucifer and all his fellows, that struck them from the high heaven to the deep hell, might light upon them. The fire and the sword that stopped Adam from the gates of Paradise might stop them from the glory of Heaven, until they forbear and make amends. The bad wishes that lighted on cursed Cain, when he slew his brother just Abel guiltless, might light on them for the innocent slaughter that they commit daily. The malediction that lighted upon all the world, man and beast, and all that ever took life, when all were drowned by the flood of Noah, except Noah and his ark, might light upon them and drown them, man and beast, and make this realm free of them for their wicked sins. The thunder and lightning that set down as rain upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, with all the lands about, and burnt them for their vile sins, might rain upon them, and burn them for open sins. The bad wishes and confusion that lighted on the Gigantis for their oppression and pride, building the tower of Babylon, might confound them and all their works, for their open disregard and oppression. All the plagues that fell upon Pharaoh and his people of Egypt, their lands, corn and cattle, might fall upon them, their land, rooms and buildings, corn and animals. The river of Tweed and other rivers where they ride might drown them, as the Red Sea drowned King Pharaoh and his people of Egypt, pursuing Gods people of Israel. The earth might open, split and cleave and swallow them alive to hell, as it swallowed cursed Dathan and Abiron, that disobeyed Moses and command of God. The wild fire that burnt Thore and his fellows to the number of two hundredth and fifty, and others 14,000 and 700 at anys, usurping against Moses and Aaron, servants of God, might suddenly burn and consume them daily disobeyed and commands of God and holy church. 

    The malediction that lights suddenly upon fair Absolom, riding contrary to his father, King David, servant of God, through the wood, when the branches of a tree knocked him off his horse and hanged him by the hair, might light upon them, untrue Scots men, and hang them suchlike that all the world may see. The malediction that lighted upon Olifernus, lieutenant to Nebuchadnezzar’s, making war and hardships upon true Christian men; the malediction that lighted upon Judas, Pilot, Herod and the Jews that crucified Our Lord, and all the plagues and troubles that lighted on the city of Jerusalem therefore, and upon Simon Magus for his treachery, bloody Nero, cursed Ditius Magcensius, Olibrius, Julianus, Apostita and the rest of the cruel tyrants that slew and murdered Christ’s holy servants, might light upon them for their cruel tyranny and martyrdom of Christian people. And all the vengeance that ever was taken since the world began for open sins, and all the plagues and pestilence that ever fell on man or beast, might fall on them for their open evil, slaughter of guiltless and shedding of innocent blood. I SEVER and PARTS them from the kirk of God, and deliver them alive to the devil of hell, as the Apostol Saint Paul delivered Corinth. I exclude the places they come in for divine service, ministration of the sacraments of holy church, except the sacrament of baptizing only; and forbid all churchmen to take confession or absolve them of their sins, which they be first absolved of this cursing. I FORBID all Christian man or woman to have any company with them, eating, drinking, speaking, praying, lying, standing, or in any other deed doing, under the pain of deadly sin. I DISCHARGE all bonds, acts, contracts, oaths and obligations made to them by any persons, other of law, kindness or duty, so long as they sustain this cursing; so that no man be bound to them, and that they be bound to all men. I Take from them and cry down all the good deeds that ever they did or shall do, which they rise from this cursing. I DECLARE them excluded of all matins, masses, evensongs, mourning or other prayers, on book or bead; of all pilgrimages and poorhouse deeds done or to be done in holy church or by Christian people, enduring this cursing.

    And, finally, I CONDEMN them perpetually to the deep pit of hell, to remain with Lucifer and all his fellows, and their bodies to the gallows of the Burrow Muir, first to be hanged, then torn apart with dogs, swine, and other wild beasts, abominable to all the world. And their life gone from your sight, as might their souls go from the sight of God, and their good fame from the world, which they forbear their open sins aforesaid and rise from this terrible cursing, and make satisfaction and penance. 

In 2001, Gordon Young carved 383 words of the curse into a 7.7 ton rock and the floor of the display has the names of the cursed family names. The display can be found in Carlisle.

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Elliot Clan Society

The Curse of the Border Clans

by ECS Webmaster on August 26, 2013 in News

http://www.elliotclan.com/curse-border-clans/

The Great Monition of Cursing by Gavin Dunbar, the Archbishop of Glasgow on the border reivers - 1525

Occassional Paper No. 1

by Tam Ward

Biggar Archaeological Group

RESTORATION

BBC.com

July 2003 

The Border Reivers - The Curse

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/features/2003/07/restoration/the_curse.shtml

The Telegraph

Archbishop to lift 'evil' curse linked to foot and mouth

By Jonathan Petre12:01AM GMT 04 Nov 2001

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1361439/Archbishop-to-lift-evil-curse-linked-to-foot-and-mouth.html

I need a time machine

Are there any Blockbusters left?

I was looking for something else and I found not one $5 Blockbuster gift card, but two of these bad boys.

Someone is going to get a special gift for Christmas.

A Vault of Color: Protecting the World's Rarest Pigments

The Harvard Pigment Library

Harvard University has a library devoted to the collection and preservation of pigments. The Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies holds some 2,500 pigment sources, some of which can only be found in this collection: Ground shells of extinct insects; barks of long gone trees; poisonous metals. The Center also does restoration of art and tests for fraud in artwork.

For example, their work was instrumental in proving that a Jackson Pollock painting "rediscovered" in 2007 was actually a fake, after pigment analysis revealed that a specific red color was manufactured 20 years after the artist's death. The color, Red 254, was a by-product of a chemical reaction first documented in 1974; it's also nicknamed "Ferrari red." - Fastodesign article  

Some of the pigments in the collection include:

• Mummy Brown - from the resin used to preserve Egyptian mummies.
• Indian Yellow - from the urine of cows fed only on mango leaves.
• Dragon's Blood - from the rattan palm.
• Ultramarine Blue - both real and artificial. The real stuff is made from Lapis Lazuli: "People would mine it in Afghanistan, ship it across Europe, and it was more expensive that gold so it would have its own budget line on a commission."
• Emerald Green - made from copper acetoarsenite.
• Lead in a rainbow of colors.
• Tyrian purple - prepared from the secretion from the predatory sea snail Bolinus brandaris, once only worn by emperors.
• Kermes - an Old World pigment created by grinding tiny blisters produced by the insects Coccus ilicis, which lived on the kermes oak tree. Kermes is also the source of the word "crimson."
• Flakes from car paint from the last hundred years.
• And hundreds more.

See also: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/09/a-wall-of-color-a-window-to-the-past/ and http://hyperallergic.com/162532/the-pigment-library-that-launched-american-art-conservation/