Feastgear on the cheap - edited w/ links

[abendgules]

This is a sort of newsletter article in progress...comments welcome.

Feastgear on the cheap
Dining together is a feature of many Society events. Candlelit meals allow us to relax and enjoy each other's company, and share sometimes unusual food; the lighting and company can help us blur the edges of our real world, and step into a slightly different age. 
In the Current Middle Ages, it is custom to 'BYO' - bring  your own table setting, which we generally refer to as 'feast gear'. If you're new to the Society, it might strike you as an odd custom. But bringing personal feast gear saves the volunteer event organizers the purchase or rental of plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery at each event.
So where do you find 'medieval' table settings? what exactly should you look for?
For most occasions, a plate, bowl, cup or tankard, knife and spoon per person are sufficient. If you're just getting started on your feastgear set, aim for something plain and 'un-modern' (ie. avoid plastic in modern colours) that you can pack safely and care for. 
Here are some shopping suggestions for a basic table setting, ideally without spending a wad. 

Charity shops: Look for 
--  wooden platters, cheese boards and salad bowls. Start small, because large cutting boards get heavy very quickly! Scrub clean with hot water. 
-- pewter tankards. Check that they do not leak *before* taking them to an event. Find solid-bottomed ones if you can; the tradition of the glass bottom and the king's shilling comes well after the SCA period. Also be aware that some metals can react with acidic or carbonated drinks. Test them at home first.
-- wood or bone-handled carving knives: with some cutting and reshaping, you can change a modern steel carving knife into something closely resembling a period table knife.
-- table linens: plain table cloths, napkins and tea towels. You can't have enough of these! Plain flat sheets can double as long table cloths.

Pound shops: look for 
-- small plates and bowls for serving Indian food. A bit shiny, but lightweight, durable, and otherwise unremarkable.
-- plain candlesticks, candles and tea lights. I prefer real candles to tea lights, mainly because candlesticks provide light above table level - that, and I'm less likely to reach over a candle by mistake.
-- wooden spoons, for serving

Garden shops: look for
-- terracotta planter bases: Small ones make fine dining plates, large ones are good for serving dishes. Pottery requires more care than wood or pewter (there's a reason that archeologists find so much broken pottery in middens!) but will wash up cleanly. 

IKEA: if you're willing to brave the crowds, look for 
-- terracotta planter bases, as before
-- candles by the box: IKEA stocks good quality candles quite cheaply. White or cream most resemble expensive beeswax candles from period.

Reenactor markets: if you can afford a visit, you can find an entire table setting! 
The markets are especially good for hard-to-find items, like spoons from pewter or horn, or attractive pottery drinking cups. The ceramics and glassware are lovely.

The Original Reenactors Market
Next date 9-11th November

National Living History Fayre
Next date 26-28 October

If you're on a budget, you can maybe augment your feast gear with one special item (the perfect-sized goblet, perhaps, or a distinctive bowl) and raid the charity shops for the rest.

The quickest and cheapest way to swank up your table setting is to bring linens. 
Table cloths hide modern tables, napkins and bags can wrap around modern drinks bottles on the table. Personalize them with painted or embroidered designs.

For inspiration, some images of table settings from manuscripts...and some local finds from around Thamesreach.

Now that you have your table setting - shall we sit together at feast?

Comments

[cortejo.livejournal.com]

glass and pottery are also period, just hard to keep from breaking :)

[bend-gules.livejournal.com]

Yup. Earlier draft referred to potters who supply reenactors markets here - but the markets are well outside London.

Local pottery examples:
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/ceramics.asp

'London-type ware'
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/subcategory.asp?subcat_id=796&subcat_name=London%2Dtype+ware

'Surrey-Hampshire border ware'
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/subcategory.asp?subcat_id=706&subcat_name=Surrey%2FHampshire+border+ware

[cortejo.livejournal.com]

I saw some cool painted glass stuff in a museum (I think it might even be the glass museum) in Brussels.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Great little article. If you could find some good photos or make some drawings as examples that would be good too, I think.

And possibly mention that feasts are also usually bring your own drink.

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

An excellent idea - may I post it as an information article on the Klakavirki website (with all relevent credits, naturally)? I'm sure I can find a couple or relevent photos.

[shaunacarrick.livejournal.com]

Oooooo! Wonderful write-up! May I copy it to our local chronicler (suitably edited for the US and all credit given)?

[bend-gules.livejournal.com]

Um, sure. I'm planning to pass it on to our own local chronicler, but wanted some input first. Thanks for your interest!

Best single source of images for table settings:
http://www.larsdatter.com/feastgear.htm

UK/US terms:
The UK 'charity shop' is 'second-hand shop' in US/Canada.
'Pound shop' is 'dollar store'.

Note that reenactor markets are not quite like US Ren Faires. UK reenactor markets are weekend events where reenactors buy their equipment. There's no 'public' to entertain - just lots of shopping. :-) Examples:

the original reenactor's market
http://www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk/

national living history fayre
http://www.montacute.net/nhlf/

[cortejo.livejournal.com]

Feast gear on the really really cheep would be the crust or slice of bread.

Or drinking (approved beverage) right from a jug/bottle.

Wicker baskets are nice. Wooden spoons are easy to find.

Ooo buckets! For holding lunch in.

[self-serve.livejournal.com]

This is a great article. You said you were passing this along to your local chronicler? Have you given any thought to passing it on to a chatelaine, or the like? Just a thought...

[foms.livejournal.com]

I'm given to understand that the practice of bringing one's own eating gear was usual in some places and times in period. Also, I still use the word nef, though it seems to be falling out of style and may always have been rare in these parts.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/FOOD-UTENSILS/nefs-msg.html

[bend-gules.livejournal.com]

I'd wondered what a 'nef' was! It's mentioned on Karen Larsdatter's page.

[ingaborg.livejournal.com]

Nice article.

May I also suggest jugs? Everybody likes nice jugs :) Earthenware or similarly plain jugs can be found in charity shops. I got a lovely little hand-turned cream jug in very plain ware from our local CS. Don't get the ones that are obviously Denby but keep an eye out for something unusual. Very handy for decanting wine or beer into (or apricot brandy) to serve on the table.