Catalan Pelican Scroll
Disclaimer: This Page is Still in Progress
This page is not yet finalized because I'm still working on the scroll. It's a challenge to get the pieces done while attempting to make a website at the same time. I'm still working on getting the hang of it, and actually taking pictures.
What is this and Why Am I Doing It?
This entire project is a scroll designed to honor the elevation of Simon Caminante to the Order of the Pelican.
In the SCA the Companions of the Order of the Pelican (OP) are those who have been recognized by the Crown and awarded a Patent of Arms (the highest level of award) for unrelenting service to the Kingdom and the Society, along with their consistent display of the virtues of Grace, Courtesy and Chivalric Demeanour.
I was tasked with the job of creating this scroll by the recipient himself. This is to honor an agreement and a promise made at Pennsic 49 between the two of us that I would be the one to make his next scroll.
So here we are.
Ask, and ye shall receive a massive scroll.
Catalan Atlas, Elisha ben Abraham Cresques, 1375, Majorca, 25.3 x 118.1 inches (Bibliothèque Nationale de France).
About the Extant
The Catalan Atlas was made by Jewish mapmaker, Elisha ben Abraham Cresques in 1375. The Atlas itself was written on 6 parchment leaves and measures almost 10 feet long and over 2 feet tall. You can see this scroll here.
Map He Requested to be Used
The recipient sent over a copy of this map of AEthelmearc to use. It's a modern day map of the area. I used this map as the basis for all the territorial markings.
The Extant - Zoomed In
In addition to the actual map, the Catalan Atlas has two additional pages in it. Both pages are listed below.
Tentative Layout of the Scroll Text
This is the general plan I had for the scroll text.
As you can see, it's A LOT of words to put in. I crudely scribled in the layout on my cell phone with my finger.
The Text Page Without Markings on It
The Optional Page
I call this page the "optional" page because I may or may not be able to get this done with the tight time frame I have to work with.
I might need to put this aside and save it for a future project or a present for the recipient to be given at a later time.
Making a New Hand for this Scroll
The hand I needed for this scroll didn't exist in any of my calligraphy manuals, so I created one. Read about the process here.
The Scroll Design
I've broken up the scroll design by panels because of the sheer volume of pictures involved during this process. Each piece of velum was 8.5" x 11", and was marked down in the middle with a pencil.
Scroll Text Page - words by Sir Beatrix
Click here to read the scroll text.
Special Thanks
Maîstresse Philomene de Lys of Atlantia for providing helpful translations of really difficult-to-understand parts and deciphering the compass
Mistress Ellisif Gydasdottir of Drachenwald for providing me with helpful advice, tips, and pointers to recreating this piece
Julius Gautieri of AEthemearc for providing research and links into this map
Departure from Period Practice
A modern map of AEthelmearc was used, this is sort of not period
This was a concession that I gave to the award recipient because he specifically requested that I draw -that- map of AEthelmearc. The Catalan map does not have specific territorial markers in or borders
Drawing in borders into maps was actually done in period, just not in the extant that was used. Borders are political constructs that are subject to change. The Catalan map was meant for navigation.
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Things I Learned
I learned a lot about period maps, map making and how maps are generally read
References
Fein, A. (2022). The Catalan Atlas. Smart History: The Center for Public Art History. Retrieved from https://smarthistory.org/catalan-atlas/