Back to basics
A Norman lord, who lived in a castle, controlled a vast area of land, sometimes as much as two counties. He could not farm it himself. He divided it into smaller estates called manors. Each estate was given to a lesser lord. He was sometimes called the lord of the manor. The lord of the manor would give his loyalty and his service to the overlord in exchange for the estate.
The Manor House: The lord of the manor built the manor house. It usually had a tower and a look-out post. Farm buildings, such as stables, barns and cow byres, were built close by.
Crossbow
Date: c. 1460-1470
Medium: wood (walnut?) inlaid with bone; horn; iron and steel; composite bow (horn and parchment)
Dimensions: Overall - l:87.00 cm (l:34 1/4 inches) Wt: 3.74 kg Bow - w:74.50 cm (w:29 5/16 inches) Butt - w:4.20 cm (w:1 5/8 inches)
Albarello with Pseudo-Kufic Letters
Date: 1300s
Medium: tin-glazed earthenware (majolica)
Dimensions: Overall - h:21.60 cm (h:8 1/2 inches)
The Muslim occupation of Spain brought the arts and skills of the Islamic world to Europe and led to the flowering of majolica throughout the continent. This vessel was made in Paterna, near the Christian port of Valencia. Its design and decoration, featuring a band of pseudo-Kufic (fake Arabic) letters, suggests a strong Muslim influence, the subtle blend of the Islamic and the Spanish known as Hispano-Moresque.
Crescent-Shaped Earring
Date: 1000-1100
Medium: gold filigree with cloisonné enamel
Dimensions: Average - h:2.30 w:2.60 cm (h:7/8 w:1 inches)
I think Isabela would like this
Ring
Date: 1300s
Medium: gilded silver, sapphire
Dimensions: Diameter - h:2.90 cm (h:1 1/8 inches)
Tradition holds that this ring was found in a garden in Winchester, England. In the 14th century, rings were worn in large numbers-four or five on one handl. The symbols of the sun and moon and the clasped hands found on this ring suggest a sentimental relationship between a man and a woman.
Intaglio with Male Portrait Bust
Date: 500s
Medium: amethyst with gold mount
Dimensions: Overall - h:4.30 w:2.50 cm (h:1 11/16 w:15/16 inches)
Department: Medieval Art
Type of art work: Glyptic
Ring Money
Date: c. 100-50 B. C.
Medium: gold
Department: Medieval Art
Type of art work: Coins
Credit Line: The Norweb Collection
I hadn’t heard of ring money before. I’ve done a little research; the Internet suggests this was a Celtic phenomenon (though you can find examples in other cultures, such as ancient Egypt). It’s unclear if these were meant to be used like coins (variations in shape and design, as well as material, suggest that there weren’t set denominations) or if this was jewelry that could be used as a form of proto-money. Or maybe it was a combination, or varied by time and place, etc. Anyway, here’s a look at an alternative system of payment.
Finding the real past in the fictional present
