Celtic style scrolls.

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Viscounty scroll on vellum painted with a combination of period pigments and gouaches.

Page one of a two page, side by side presentation. Each page measures 9 1/2 inches high and 6 inches wide.

The Viking runes are not native to this style of illumination and were added at His Excellency's request.

However...the scribes, being very creative by nature devised a tale to explain the runes.

FACT:In the year 793, without warning, the Vikings raided and sacked the monastery of Lindisfarne in north eastern England. As monastery after monastery suffered the same fate, the treasures of Lindisfarne, including the famed Gospels were sent away and hidden. As more modern history tells us, Rurik Longsword, a fierce and mighty Viking reigned over the Principality of Ęthelmearc in A.S.XXXI.
? FACT ?: In a thinly veiled attempt to bribe him to leave the throne of Ęthelmearc in peace, and not wreak havoc on Our lands and people (including the scribes), we offer him this gift in the style of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Illumination by Lady Eibhlin ni Chaoimh and Lord Aengus MacBain

Celtic calligraphy can hold the viewer with as much force as the illuminated pages.

Page two of this scroll is a great example of how to acheive this.

The text begins with the letters M...A...Y entwined and highly ornamented. (Forming the word may).

Text: written in Uncial hand.....

May the reign and the deeds of Rurik Longsword be long remembered in the hearts and minds of the noble populace of Ęthelmearc. Having bested many noble and valiant fighters in honorable combat, he earned the right to wear the coronet of Our fine Principality. His reign was one of good humor, quiet dignity, and chivalry to all. Thus do We, Kyl and Susan, Prince and Princess of Ęthelmearc, as empowered by Hanse and Morduah, recognize him as a Viscount of the Realm with all the rights, privilages, and duties pertaining thereto. We also bestow upon him these Arms by Letters Patent......

Done this fifth day of April, A.S.XXXI in the presence of all assembled at Investiture in Our Canton of Beau Fleuve.

Calligraphy by Lord Aengus MacBain

Notes on Celtic illumination.

• Highly ordered series of lines woven in an over - under - over - under... pattern.
• Often one continuous line, but can be several, or appear as several because of the painting pattern.
• Designs can also contain stylized animals, plants, and people.(In this case, dogs were extensively used because that is the main charge in the recipient's device.)
• Each design element is set apart in its own frame and all of the frames are held together by more frames.
• Color scheme is very limited.

  Yellow ochre - orpiment....yellow

  white lead....white

  red lead - kermes....red

  verdigris - malachite....green

  lamp black....black

  indigo - woad - lapis lazuli....blue

  whelk (shellfish) - folium (plant)....purple

• Celtic purple is the hardest color to imitate. It is closer to the red tones than the blue. The light and dark shades are from the same pigment. White has been added to make the lighter color.

Celtic calligraphy notes

• The opening capital is the focal point and takes up a great deal of room on the page.
• The opening letter is sometimes combined with other letters to form words or parts of words.
• Being as the capital is the main focus, it often appears over ornamented and gaudy to the modern eye.
• White space within a letter is often filled with color.
• Red dots in ordered patterns or as outlines to the words themselves help fill what would otherwise be empty space.
• Important words within the text are also highlighted in these ways.
• Letters are sometimes nested in a form of ligature.
• The ampersand...&... although different in appearance, was used in the modern context.
• Words are completely written on a line (No breaks in writing - similar to modern hyphenated words). When there is space left at the end of a line, yet not quite enough for the next word, decorative fillers were used.
• Colors used are the same as for the illuminated pages.