Note: this is NOT a formal, costumed, SCA event; it's a workshop with modern clothes, modern names and modern tools.
Master Edward Braytwayte and Master Llewellyn ap Dafydd offer the populace of the Barony of Ildhafn the chance to work in their sweat-shop, slave for no wages whatsoever, and take home a 6-board chest made in the most authentically-bodgy medieval or renaissance fashion, entirely at their own expense.
Edward and Llewellyn will provide the research, the materials, and the craft-skills to manage the production line. The workshop itself will take place at Ed's school (there's more space there than in his home workshop). Edward and Elizabeth have further offered tent-space on their grounds for any who wish it. We provide labour, skilled or unskilled, and pay for the materials.
If you have any questions about booking, paying for, and attending the event, please contact Katherina Weyssin.
If you have questions about the chests, their historical setting, or their materials and construction, please contact Ed or Llewellyn.
The Chests
Plain 6-board chests, suitable for European personas from the 14th to the 16th century. We'll make all of these in pine, to keep costs down. We are indulging in hand-forged nails, because we can. There may be another workshop, later, where we try more expensive woods.
Options
Although we'll make the chests using a production-line, they don't have to be identical. If there's too much variety in what people want to make, we might have to standardise them a little more, but you are likely to be able to choose:
- Size - small, medium or large
- Hinges - strap hinges or snipe hinges
- Till - small internal container, or not
If folk want an idea of what the small chest looks like they can go to the Cluain gallery, where it is labelled "Mary Rose Chest". There are some more pics on the next page that show the till and hinges.
Details and prices
- Chest stool: (approx $51). 470 high (seat height), 285 wide and 600 long. (Internal dimensions: 265 x 245 x 560)
- Midi chest:(approx $63). 500 high, 375 wide and 700 long (Internal dimensions: 265 x 295 x 660)
- Maxi chest: (approx $87). 620 high, 425 wide and 900 long (Internal dimensions: 405 x 385 x 860)
The precise sizes will depend on the final designs we decide to go for.
The costs are based on using 2.4m lengths of 285 x 20 dressed pine at $24/length, and include extra to cover hand-forged nails, sundry materials including steel, abrasives, adhesives, oil, wax, biscuits (the wooden variety) plus delivery costs, shipping the nails, GST etc.
Paying for materials
You will need to pay for materials well in advance, so there is no danger of Edward or Llewellyn being out of pocket. You must have booked and paid by Friday the 15th of March (a fortnight before the workshop).
Fill out the booking form, then pay the materials cost into the Ildhafn bank account. Your booking is only secured with payment. If you cancel after materials have been bought, you will need to find someone else to take your place - no refunds.
The materials-costs are Ed's and Llewellyn's best guess, but are still guesses. You might end up getting a small refund, or being asked to pay $5-10 more for your chest.
The only cost is for materials. If you're coming with a partner or friend but not making a chest, you don't need to pay - but please do fill out the booking form, so we know who to expect.
The workshop
The workshop will be held in Rotorua, over Easter. We'll make the chests in the workshop at Ed's school, as there's more space there than in his home workshop.
Up to 10 workers may make up to 15 chests. First in get the slots! Partners, kids and assorted hangers-on all welcome.
The work of making the chests will be spread over four days, but won't take all of each day: there'll be quite a bit of slack time while glue dries, and so on. Plan to spend some time being a tourist, or bring other projects or pastimes for the spare hours.
Accommodation
Ed and Elizabeth are willing to see an array of tents on their lawn, and will even let us inside to use the loo. Otherwise, Rotorua is close by, and there are many hotels and motels.
Food - BYO nearly everything
Breakfast is on the house, thanks to Ed and Elizabeth's generosity. Help in cooking and cleaning up is always welcome.
No other meals are provided. If you'd like to cook for others (in a small informal meal-plan) feel free to arrange it - please include Ed, Elizabeth and Eirik on your list of people to feed, in thanks for their hospitality. Otherwise, we'll probably make periodic trips into Rotorua for snacks, takeaways, or other food as we see fit.