ADVANCE NOTIFICATION

Tak v Bowes Departed: A 15th Century Braiding Manual Examined
by Elizabeth Benns and Gina Barrett

Tak v bowes departed is an in-depth study of Article 4, British Library Manuscript Harley 2320. This treatise, which dates to the fifteenth century, gives instructions for making forty different braids of varying complexity.

Braids such as these were used for a variety of purposes during the medieval period; lacing clothes, purse strings, decorative trim and seal tags. This book discusses the background of the original manuscript; who may have owned it, how it was made, and compares the spelling and language with other similar documents.

Tak v bowes departed concludes with modern instructions to make each of the braids; original errors have been corrected and noted, and each braid is clearly illustrated for reference. The instructions are provided as both text and diagrams, and include a detailed overview of the technique of 'fingerloop braiding' for those new to this skill.

For further information and to order your advance copy, visit
Tak v Bowes: A 15th Century Braiding Manual Examined

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Jenn

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I have a quick question, based on some of the discussions that I've been privy to of people that are interested. I'm certain that you're familiar with the website http://fingerloop.org/. It looks like they include 20 or fewer braids from that ms. It seems like your book will address many more braids, and go more in-depth with the ms background. Are there any other differences or additions that we should look for in your new publication? I've heard a few people say that they think they already have access to most of the info, but I'd love to pass on what some of the new features are in your book.

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The first section of the book contains a detailed study of the original manuscript - details such as the size, the hand used, spellings, dating evidence, comparison of the hand, spelling and use of different letter types with other similar manuscripts, and information on how the original was produced. (parts of a medieval book, bindings, colours, etc) This part of the study will be of particular interest to medievalists and re-enactors. There is also a section on who may have owned the original instructions and why it was written, as well as comparisons of the braids themselves.

Next, is a section about fingerloop braiding, with detailed illustrations so that the beginner (or even the more advanced!) can learn how to braid easily. Each of the moves required is illustrated.

The braid instructions themselves are in modern English. Each includes a highly detailed drawing of the braid which can be used as a reference for comparison to braids in museums, etc., as well as to compare your own with! The instructions are also given in a diagram form which we have developed for those people who find following text instructions difficult and prefer the visual. Every braid had to be completed in order to illustrate it, so any mistakes in the original text have been corrected - and noted so that readers are aware of the corrections we have made, should any future texts come to different conclusions. Where ever possible, we have tried to ensure that the text and diagrams are on pages so that the minimal amount of page turning is required - as its rather difficult to do so when you have loops on your hand!

A full list of the contents, and an image of one of the braid instruction pages can be seen here: http://takvbowes.et-tu.com/preview.htm

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I hope this answers some of your questions!
Gina

Sorry, forgot to add - this covers 40 braids, as that is what is contained in the original manuscript, in the order that they appear in the original.

[ 03-27-2006: Message edited by: Gina ]

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Diu Minnezīt
Reconstruction of textiles, armour and daily life
1250,1350,1475
Nuremberg and Paris
http://www.diu-minnezit.de

IG Meisterhauw
Reconstruction of late medieval and early renaissance fencing techniques
http://www.meisterhauw.de

quote:

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I'm portraying a france 13th, and a german 15th century lace maker

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You'll be interested in this then -L-M BRIC News No 6 (scroll down the page for the article) as it has information on some German text recently found which has a few fingerloop braids (another house-hold book type). These are variations of the English braids.

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