Pearls

Roughly chronologi cal links to fashionabl e pendants from the Elizabetha n and early Stuart eras.

In the world of historical costuming there exist a continuum from those who want to create costumes that look historical and are made using historical fabrics and methods, all the way to those who create costumes that are only reminiscent of a particular historical period. I will be using photos of things I have made over the last few years in discussing the following techniques: slashing and pinking, quilting and trapunto, adding beads, pearls and metallic decorations, stitching, embroidery, couched cording, and buttons.

The Allerley Mackel is an example of the popular kunstbuchlein, or collection of household & artisanal recipes, popular during the 16th century. My transcription was taken from the facsimile of the Allerley Matkel printed in Sidney Edelstein's article of the same name in the Journal of Technology & Culture, Vol V, No. 3, Summer 1964. The recipes are supplemented by my notes.

Necklaces; pendants; rings; earrings; buttons, aglets & single jewels; billiments; girdles; rosaries; and links to other Elizabethan jewelry on the web.

From a regulation of the wearing of pearls (Venetian senate decree 15 October 1562).