The Almoner Your Questions Answer'd E-mail the College with your query. Read The
Cloisters: Becoming a Scribe Firstly, have you
registered your name and device? In order to be
eligible for a scroll, you must have registered
armoury with the College of Heralds. Once this is
done, the scroll assignment is placed on our
"available" list. Secondly, is it
already in progress? Scribes are volunteers who
give up their precious time and skills to create
scrolls for the people of the Kingdom. A lot of
work goes into a scroll, especially when fitted
around mundane and other SCA commitments. Scribes
are generally allotted six months to complete a
pre-printed scrolls, while an original Peerage
scroll may take a year or more. Sadly, however,
there are always far fewer scribes than scrolls to
be done, so despite our best efforts, unfortunate
but unavoidable delays will occur. Delays can also occur
during the administration process, if the scroll
has to be shipped interstate or even overseas for
signing and sealing. Turnaround on this can take
quite a while, although every effort is made to
keep this to a minimum. If you feel that your
scroll may have been unduly delayed, please do not
hesitate to contact the College so we may follow it
up. Why
is Lord X's scroll being done before Lady
Y's? Several factors may be
responsible for this. In order to be eligible for a
scroll the recipient must be currently active in
the Society, and have registered a name and device
with the College of Heralds. Even if Lady Y
received her Award first, perhaps her scroll cannot
be produced because she has not registered armoury,
has become inactive, or there is some other reason.
It is also possible that her scroll was assigned
some time ago, but the scribe was unable to
complete the assignment and it has had to be
recalled and returned to the 'available' list.
Scribing is not a
production line, it also has to be a rewarding and
enjoyable activity for the scribe. Perhaps a scribe
friend of Lord X has specifically asked to do his
scroll--good reason to be friends with a scribe!.
Some scribes and scriptoria also like to
concentrate on scrolls for people from their local
area, and prefer to work on those assignments
first; Lord X's scroll may be one of these. In
general though, where there is no preference
expressed by the scribe, assignments are made in
the order the award as given, on a "first in, first
out" basis. I've
just got my scroll--how do I look after
it? A Each award
scroll, whether a pre-printed AA or an original
work of art, is created to be a lasting document of
your achievements and honours in the SCA for you to
proudly display. Framing is
recommended for all scrolls, to preserve their
beauty at its best for as long as possible.
Ready-made frames are easily available for A3
scrolls, which is the size of the pre-printed Award
of Arms scrolls used in Lochac. Original scrolls
can vary in size, and may require custom framing.
Only acid-free, archival quality materials should
be used in framing. Using mount boards or frame
spacers is recommended so the seals are not
pressing against the glass, and although the
College of Scribes takes care to use archival
quality papers and the most permanent pigments
available, UV resistant glass is nevertheless a
good investment as it will protect the manuscript
from damage from sunlight or fluorescent lighting,
and ensure its brilliance for many years to come.
In any case, award scrolls should not be hung in
full sunlight. Scrolls should
be framed as soon as possible. Prior to framing,
they should be stored flat in a cool, dry place,
preferably between sheets of acid-free paper, and
handled carefully. If a scroll is rolled up, the
wax seals, gilding or heavy paint may crack and
fall off. Vellum and some papers may cockle if the
surrounding conditions are humid, and the seals may
soften if it gets too warm. The College
takes all possible care to get your scroll to you
in good condition. If misfortune does befall your
award scroll, please contact the College of Scribes
as per the above details. Seals can be replaced,
and it may also be possible to organise some minor
repairs. Each scroll is a
valuable work of art, representing a significant
investment of materials, skill and time. This is
especially true of original scrolls, which may be
worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars (some
scribes provide details of the monetary value of a
scroll to aid with insurance). Scribes do not
receive any remuneration for their labours.
Instead, they offer their skills, time and efforts
as a service to the people of the Kingdom. An award
scroll should therefore treated with respect and
care. Please do take the
time to thank the scribe who created your scroll.
Scribes work long and hard, and usually without
recognition or appreciation. A note or a perhaps a
gift expressing your thanks is a simple courtesy,
and is greatly appreciated by the
scribe. I
want to do my friend's/partner's scroll, why do I
have to join the College? At first glance, it
may seem the College has a certain amount of rules
that govern our work. However these rules have been
developed over two decades on practical experience,
and are in place for a good reason, namely to
assist us in serving the Kingdom as best we can.
Within the context of
the SCA, award scrolls are official documents of
the Crown, confirming the bestowing of an award to
an individual. It is expected that a certain
quality standard will be observed, and that a
certain accountability in the production process is
in place; because of that, award scrolls may only
be done by members of the College. Exemplars are one of
the tools we use to maintain quality control. An
exemplar shows what skills a scribe has, and at
what levels- not unlike an application to an art
school. Based on this, the Provost may determine a
suitable level of assignment for a prospective
scribe's skills, and hook them up with people or
resources who can help them develop their skills
further. Once the exemplar is accepted, there is a
reasonable presumption that the applicant can
adequately produce an acceptable scroll, and they
are warranted as a scribe with the College.
No-one is obliged to
submit an exemplar. If someone is not yet confident
of their skills or just want to practice the
scribal arts for their own enjoyment, there is no
expectation that they do so. If you want to do
award scrolls however, you must submit an exemplar.
The other reasons for
this requirement are ones of administrative
efficiency. Your friend's scroll may already be
assigned to another scribe, for example, or may
have already been done some time ago. Doing the
scroll again would be a duplication of effort,
which wastes time that could be better spent on
other scrolls, and is discourteous to the other
scribe in question. Proper administration
eliminates these frustrating possibilities.
Also, the assignment
can be followed so that it is completed and sealed
correctly, and presented to the recipient in a
timely fashion. The rules of the
College are not meant to be bureaucratic
straightjackets. They are simple guidelines which,
far from being restrictive, enable us to better
provide the valuable service we render to the
people of the Kingdom, and by knowing our service
is appreciated we ourselves enjoy even more the
beautiful works we create. Please also see
The
Cloister: Becoming a Scribe.
What
is "acceptable standard" for scribe
work? There have been a few
enquiries as to what is meant by acceptable
standard for scrolls. In general, use your
own judgment as to whether you have done the best
job you can on a scroll. The rule of thumb is,
would you be happy to have it on your wall for the
next 50 years? The College has a few
basic requirements, so here are some
guidelines: Permanence All scrolls should be
made with the most permanent materials a scribe has
access to. For papers this means a heavy, archival
quality paper (between 150gsm and 300gsm is
recommended.) Vellum and parchment are of course
superior, but expensive and scarce; imitations such
as parchmentine 230gsm are an excellent substitute.
Ink should be lightfast (will not fade), check the
bottle or ask if youre not sure. Likewise
paints should be permanent and lightfast. Period
pigments are great but expensive, the College
recommends Winsor & Newton designers
gouache as a good substitute. Look for lightfast
rating A for best permanence, it will note on the
label. Do not use acrylics, textas or felt tip
pens. Accuracy All details should be
correct: check that the name, blazon and date are
correct and that the arms are correctly painted
(please check with the Provost if unsure). Errors
in these will cause the scroll to be returned
unsigned by the College of Heralds. Also check for
spelling mistakes, and that all grammar and
capitals are correct for formal Australian English,
unless using a period spelling in your
text. Authenticity Try to be as authentic
as possible with your design, calligraphy and
illumination. The College in Lochac has achieved a
reputation for excellence throughout the world, and
much of this is due to the emphasis we have placed
on maintaining a high level of authenticity. There
are many resources on period manuscripts which will
provide all the inspiration you need to do your
scroll in a period and creative manner. Obtrusive
fantasy elements are not
acceptable. I
got my award years ago and was inactive for a
while, I'm back now but I still haven't got my
scroll--what's going on? As a matter of long
standing policy, active members get priority when
assigning scrolls. Checks with the local barons and
seneschals are are done periodically to keep our
stats current, and ensure we are not producing
scrolls for long-inactive members. Inactive members
are placed on hold. If an inactive member becomes
active again and wants scrolls, it's up to them to
contact the College to arrange this, as we have no
way of knowing it otherwise. Strong are we with the
Force, but not that strong! Home | Guildhall | Cloister | Court | Scriptorium | Library | Model Book | Lectern | Vault | Owlery |