An anachronistic piece, this Backlog White Scarf phénakistoscope for Count Dietrich is a bit out of our timeline. But it worked gloriously. Since this was a backlog scroll, I asked Count Dietrich what kind of scroll he would like….he responded that he’d like one showing him fighting. A single picture would not really capture the feel of fighting, but take this out for a spin and you’ll watch the fighters engage over and over again.
The quote inside is German, from a Master’s Fightbook and was done in red ink:
Wiltu daz dirß fechten glück Bïß frisch verhalt nit lang die stück Fight-Master Hans Talhoffer,Fechtbuch (1459-Thott)
(Translation: Would that your fighting be lucky –Then be lively, withhold not long the play.)
These devices were created in the early 19th century, quite out of our SCA period although mathematicians and scientists were well aware of the concept of persistence of motion long before then. The method of action of a phénakistocope was to suspend the disc on a handle and spin it manually while holding the picture side up to a mirror. One would then look through the edge slits as it spun to see the action in the mirror.
I researched the origins and found many digitized originals but finally one photo of an exhibit in the Bedford Museum in England. Communication was not possible at the time to enquire about the exhibit due to the Covid shut-down. However, the one photo DID show a handle.
My father is a very accomplished woodworker, I described the purpose, showed him the photograph and together, we made the handle and the wooden button screw from a piece of pecan wood from their property. The screw is NOT metal nor are the threads. We did decide on a few washers to allow the scope to rotate more smoothly and not damage the screw or handle.
The backer board was cut out by my Laurel, Michel Almond de Champagne after we corroborated on the size and design, width of slits, etc. based on my illumination. This did take a few tries to perfect and lots of spinning of a partially completed design taped to the wheel!
Final assembly was gouache on perg sprayed with a few passes of a clear coat to protect it and glued to the board. The center was meant to emulate a mirror…white gold leaf to create a silver look without the tarnish of real silver leaf. I used pictures of Count Dietrich fighting to recreate his outfit as well as motions. His opponent was intentionally left bland to emphasize the Count. In the final frame, you can see Dietrich’s killing blow.
What I loved most about this was involving my non-SCA family in this project as well as my dearest SCA family member. It took thought and planning to bring back this relic and then to spin it so it was relevant to a scroll and showed what was requested, the recipient fighting. Truly an anachronism both forward and backward looking!
Philomene’s Scriptorium 