Bricca di Ghelere

Mistress Bricca di Ghelere

Arts & Sciences Champion

I am honored to have been chosen to serve as the Arts & Sciences Champion for the Reign of Uther and Vera.

I have been playing SCA since 1991 when I was introduced to this wonderful Society at a small local event in the northern reaches of the Middle Kingdom. I did not do much for my first few years and did not really get into going to events until 1995 or 1996 in Trimaris. Since then I have lived in 7 more kingdoms, in a whirlwind tour: Trimaris, Northshield, Ansteorra, Meridies, Atlantia, East, Trimaris (again), and finally The West. In my travels I became fascinated with interkingdom anthropology and have been known to have impromptu gatherings where the topics are the different kingdom cultures, traditions, and how we can use these differences to become stronger as a society. Finally settling in The West was like coming home for me. I had visited several times, and moved here permanently in 2011. I was elevated to the Order of the Laurel in 2017 and Elevated to the Order of the Pelican in 2018.

My main love in medieval recreation is costuming, with an emphasis on 16th century German clothing and accessories. I also do work in 14th century western european, and have dabbled in Korean, Persian, Slavic, and occasionally a bliaut or two. Other fun artsy things I do, with little skill but lots of enthusiasm: silk painting, stringing pretty beads together, cordwaining, weaving, ropemaking, stabbing fabric with a needle to make pictures, carving print blocks, cooking, and tentmaking. While I am not the best at giving formal classes, I am always willing to teach an impromptu session on whatever I am working on at any given time.

One other thing I truly believe in is my responsibility as a peer to serve the society. Delightfully there are so many ways we can serve. Anyone who has spent time around me will know that I can “Huck Finn” folks into a new job/task/office, and they are having fun before they realize that it is service.

My persona is a 16th Century Northern Italian lady in the court of the Duke of Milan who moved with his daughter Bianca Maria Sforza’s household to Austria and then Tyrol after her marriage to Maximilian I in 1494.

Previous Clothing Projects (a VERY limited review):

Many thanks to all the photographers who capture photos of my work. I can not thank all of you enough for stepping in where I fall short. (I'm lookin' at you, Ghislane!)

Most of the photos are followed by a photo with the inspiration art or a bit of researchy goodness. if you want more information on any of these projects or styles, please let me know via the guestbook at the end of the page.

Silk Painting Projects:

Inspiration art

Large woodcut device of printer Franz Behem (a pelican in her piety with motto: Sic his qui diligunt [i.e. Thus to those who love]), signed with the HS monogram of an unidentified blockcutter active in Mainz in the first half of the 16th century.

Completed Pelican banner, June 2018

I replaced the sun in the center with my tinners hares based on Albrecht Durer's rabbits , added a Laurel Wreath in place of the nest of thorns and pinecones, and replaced the motto with my own "To serve the Crown with Truth", and then added the demisuns in the top corners.

Inspiration Art

Le Roman de la Rose, begun by Guillaume de Lorris ca. 1230 and completed, in a different style, ca. 1270-80, by Jean de Meun , there is a good article on this folio and a link to the digital manuscript at https://roseandchess.lib.uchicago.edu/rose.html

Completed Banner for Brocc of Alderden's elevation to The Order of the Laurel

I changed the Characters a bit to represent people important in Brocc's world, and added the Laurel Wreath and the demisun.

Other Projects:

Stringing beads to make it pretty

Crystal and silver globes with clear class, cobalt glass and spiral silver wire beads, this is loosely based on Ancient Roman necklaces

Campaign Booties

Linen stockings and booties in wool lined in silk, based on German Woodcuts

16th C. German "Mother" purse, or moneychangers purse, based on Albrecht Durer's Meloncholia I

Embroidery is not a skill I have...yet, in fact, I usually outsource it. However, for my student, I will do the thing myself.

An example of outsourced embroidery (Pelican by the incomparable Mistress Aine) on a wool and linen hood.

Wool split-brimmed cap with ermine trim and pearl encrusted laurel decoration (because more is more!)

Thank you for visiting!

I love talking about the things people are interested in, and the little things that we all get so excited about in our art and research, so feel free to come find me next event, or on facebook, or even send me an email.

brekke@westkingdom.org