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The Craftsman in the Middle Ages

Collectables, craftsman, Medieval Collectibles, Middle Ages -

The Craftsman in the Middle Ages

Being a master medieval craftsman was no run-of-the-mill exercise. It took years and several stages to learn a trade. Boys who wished to pick up a trade either learnt it from their fathers or as an apprentice in a master craftsman’s shop. The first step was to reach journeyman status, which took about seven years of training. Once an apprentice became a journeyman he would be paid a daily wage. To become a master, the journeyman would have to fashion a piece of work that other master craftsmen in the town considered of the highest standard; in other words, a...

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Jewelry in the Middle Ages

Brooches, Crowns, Jewelry, Medieval Jewelry, Middle Ages, Necklaces, Rings -

Jewelry in the Middle Ages

Much like clothing, jewelry in the Medieval Ages portrayed status and wealth. Initially, only the wealthy could afford fine ornaments. However, as trade and commerce grew in the continent, the European middle class began to afford them. By the 14th century, wearing jewelry had become common. The elite started to wear fancier stuff to distinguish themselves from the middle class who promptly caught up and upped their game. This led to jewelry becoming more lavish. As there were no state-of-the-art cutting techniques in that time, jewelry was duller and less vibrant than today. However, they were still very valuable. Brooches:...

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Medieval Fabric

Medieval, Medieval Clothing, Medieval Costumes, Medieval Fabric -

Medieval Fabric

Five major components comprised medieval clothing in Europe. Leather was used to make shoes and belts. The lighter linen was used for clothes that hugged the skin, including tunics and dresses. Outer (and winter) garments were made of wool. Peasants wore rabbit fur while the richer community preferred the rarer ermine fur.  Silk was the most expensive and was the exclusive domain of the rich. There we laws in place to ensure that certain fabrics and colors could only be worn by a specific social class to differentiate them from others. Linen was common throughout Europe, whereas wool was largely...

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The Gladius

Roman, Roman legionnaire, The Gladius -

The Gladius

The gladius was the weapon of choice for hand-to-hand combat and probably responsible for more fatalities than any other tool in the Roman legion’s arsenal. This short sword, known as gladius hispaniensis, was originally introduced to Rome by Spanish mercenaries. By 200 BC, the gladius had become more or less a permanent fixture in the Roman legion. It possessed a 50 cm, two-edged blade with a sharp point and was a formidable weapon despite its small size. This quite wonderfully balanced blade, fashioned of Spanish iron, was also the perfect stabbing weapon! But while the gladius was designed as a...

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Awkward Knights in Sparkling Armor?

Armor, Armory, Knights, Suits of Armor -

Awkward Knights in Sparkling Armor?

To say that the silver screen has a way of exaggerating things is like saying water is wet. People dodge bullets, one man can lay out thirty, and armored knights move with ballet-like elegance. In this post, we will deliberate on the last point. In reality, how effective was full-body medieval armor? Was the make so concerned with safety that movement was compromised? Perhaps yes. There is a likelihood that these battle suits did more harm than good. The armor may have sparkled regally and staved off arrows but the soldier protected by it did not quite move with the...

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