Durham Cathedral Library Visit

A great treat awaited scribes who went to see some of the ancient manuscripts held by the library. Using the connection with Bede as the theme, the librarian put out on display seventeen items ranging in age from a 6th century manuscript through each subsequent century to the late 15th. It was a journey that started with the oldest, written in the 6th century - a fragment from a copy of the Book of Maccabees - which had been "recycled" and used as a flyleaf in a much later (12th century) book, and believed to be from the library assembled by Benedict Biscop and almost certainly known and used by Bede himself.

Durham possesses an unrivalled collection of early, complete manuscripts and though most of the exhibits had been re-bound at some time, the contents were entirely the original thing.

An 8th century Gospel Book, written somewhere in Northumbria, was on display as was a Commentary on the Psalms, by the monastic founder Cassiodorus, which was acquired by Abbot Ceolfrith for his twin monastery - it could have even been copied by the hand of Bede himself.

Next came an 11th century copy of Bede's Ecclesiastical History, which is the earliest surviving copy of Bede's major work owned by the Library, and is one of sixteen of his books in their collection.

A work by St. Augustine, written in the distinctive Caroline minuscule hand used at Canterbury, somehow found its way to Durham by the year 1200; a copy of one of St Jerome's works, made in the Durham Scriptorium, showed lively drawings sometimes featuring fantastic creatures.

Then came something a little different, and a bit gory - an early 12th century book, "Medical and Astronomical Treatises" which described in drawings and writing how various medical operations were performed at the time.

As each century progressed, so the style of the books showed how sophisticated such items had become , especially in the integrating of text and commentaries in biblical works.

The brightness of the colours of the illuminations and the sharpness of the calligraphy with fine hairlines and some tiny letters and drawings could only be wondered at. The margins and lines were still visible and ready ruled - probably by some little apprentice - and not erased, but left under the writing, rather like faint scaffolding.

May Meeting

Our May 15th Workshop will be held at Sunderland University (Sir Tom Cowie Campus). Marise Hewitson and Mari Topping will be visiting us from North York Calligraphers. They will be demonstrating backgrounds for calligraphy, mainly marbling techniques. They are providing the essential materials for each person, but you can bring any papers/card you would like to use, white and any other colours. Black is especially effective.

Part of the day will be about making and lining envelopes; if you have any tissue paper (any colours), it would be useful.

This might be a messy session - involving oily paints, inks etc as well as water - so Marise and Mari will provide plastic aprons and plastic gloves, and will bring table coverings.

This promises to be an unusual and interesting session and we hope you will find the journey to Sunderland worth it!

April Workshop... Italics - theme and variations

We welcomed back Celia Kilner for our April workshop, where she treated scribes to some Italic Variations, in her interesting, and often amusing, style.

March meeting of Northumbrian Scribes

In our March workshop we will be looking at text interpretation with Angela Dalleywater.

Scale, letterform, letter-weight, colour, space, texture and contrast - these are all elements available to help interpret your chosen text, so that the piece gives an impression of what it's about, before the viewer even reads the words. We'll be exploring all of these things and more.

Please bring:
Usual calligraphic equipment, in particular a variety of nibs, ink, layout/practice paper, ruler, pencil, a board to lean on, and colour (gouache).

Angela will bring lots of short texts for us to work with, but if you have some favourite words with which you'd like to work, then do bring them.

The Society of Northumbrian Scribes meets on the third Saturday of the month at Bede's World, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear.

ELIZABETH LAMB

We were sad to learn at our meeting in January that Elizabeth Lamb had died some time before Christmas. Elizabeth had been a Scribe for many years, but was taken ill about a year ago, and looked far from well all last year. Sometimes she felt too unwell to lift a pen, but still continued to attend meetings. Northumbrian Scribes only heard about her death when the Scribes’ Christmas cards were forwarded to her address.

Elizabeth had had an interesting life as a nurse. She had twice worked her passage to Australia intending to settle there, but had returned both times to Sunderland. She had also worked in India. Lately she spent time helping neighbourhood friends with health problems and hospital visits, and she also much enjoyed doing craft activities with nephews and nieces.

Extracts from a description she wrote of herself are as follows:

* 50 years’ nursing experience, including 10 years’ voluntary work in many countries with Save the Children, British Red Cross, International Red Cross and International League of Red Cross. Began as a pre-student nurse, later specialising in midwifery , orthopaedics, oncology, cardiothoracics, h.i.v. and Aids-related diseases. Left the NHS to work in industry and occupational health.
*Hobbies: driving, decoupage, watercolours, calligraphy, travel, cats and conservation. Elizabeth was particularly proud of a calligraphic book she wrote and had printed about the Venerable Bede. She also sent out printed cards of her watercolours. But, in my view, her special forte was Pergamano (lovely lace-like designs pricked out on very thick waxed paper).

We shall miss her companionship at our meetings.

Janet Ashmore

Northumbrian Scribes February workshop...

The next meeting of The Society of Northumbrian Scribes will be on Saturday 20th February at Bede's World, Jarrow. We will be looking at extreme italics with Mike Mavromichaelis, and will start by writing a simple italic script before moving on to slimmer things. You will be offered guidance in writing a compressed hand but you will have time to explore and to enjoy writing slim letters. Please bring your favourite nibs to write with but also do bring any large nibs you may have (up to 12mm).

Extreme italics are usually informal so that your own adaptations can be introduced and you may choose your own directions. Please bring: your usual writing kit and paper up to A3 size are all that are needed.

Members... please remember to bring your draft artworks of the calendar contribution to the February meeting.

Northumbrian Scribes pressed into action

The Shields Gazette visited Bede’s World recently to see some members of Northumbrian Scribes in action. Dominic James, Judi Postle and Susan Moor demonstrated their art to reporter Johnny Wilson who bravely agreed to have a go himself. There was a good write up of the meeting in the Shields Gazette of 4 January and the full article can be viewed here.