Vigil Books

It is the custom in the SCA that when somebody is awarded a peerage (Knighthood for heavy fighting, Master of Defence for fencing, Laurel for arts and sciences or Pelican for service) that they sit vigil the night before as Knights used to of old.  During this time, other members of the society who wish to meet with them to give them advice and encouragement, and a book is kept in which such messages can be written.  It has become something of a tradition in Drachenwald that such books are purpose-made, and my wife Mary produced a number with embroidered covers.  As this is a slow process and she received more requests than she could managed, I offered to help her out with books made with painted covers.  Such painted covers have no historic precedent (unlike the embroidered ones Mary was producing), but they caught on as popular items and I received many requests to do more.  I also produced internal title-pages for them, and for the embroidery-covered books that Mary produced.

Title Page for Duncan Kerr's Pelican Vigil Book

Back and front covers for Yannick Normandy's Pelican Vigil Book.




Front and back covers, and title page, of Richard Rampant's Pelican Vigil Book


Front and back covers of Edricus' Pelican Vigil Book


Front and back covers of Ariahhwy Wen's Laurel Vigil Book


Front and back covers of Edith of Hedingham's Laurel Vigil book (painted silk)


Front and back covers of Gwenllian Verch Andras' MOD vigil book (painted silk)


Front and back covers of Esbiorn Jensson's MOD vigil book

 

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