I am passionately interested in all things connected to 12 C., Norman Sicily in particular. In addition to participating in list discussions, I would like to connect with other folk interested in 1100’s Sicily.
~ Isabeau du Lis Noire
Kingdom of An Tir
Message #1012, April 13, 2003
I have the good fortune to be able to visit Mistress Katheryn of Hindscroft’s outrageously covetable library and spotted a series of 6 volumes called Storia del Costume in Italia by Rosita Levi Pisetzky in her collection.
The 12th Century section has quite a bit of information on Norman Sicily and lots of very nice pictures. The author mentions a 12th century visit by an Arab names Ibn-Giubair to the Norman court and apparently his letters are still extant, and the book also quotes this visitor. The down-side is that the series of books is going for about $3000 now *and* its in Italian. I believe Cainder here in An Tir has worked on translating the 14th century section of the book and it would be great to have the 12th century section done too! For you, there is a copy of these volumes in the Seattle Public Library, but they are non-circulating. I got them on ILL here in Portland but was only able to use them in the library.
I’ve been busy digging into the 12th century history of Brittany and looking at available art work etc. Turns out that the area of Saint Brieuc is still pretty wild and provincial in the 12th century.
I’ve just made a new white linen chemise an am trying to decide on my next bliaut!
~ Katrine / Katherine Barich
Message #1013, April 13, 2003
[Visiting Katheryn of Hindcroft’s library is] Good fortune indeed! Glad to know you are spending time with her. Long, long ago, I was one of her first apprentice. I still view her as an ascended master – one who needs no scissors. She points her finger and the fabric parts. Give her my most warm regards.
[Re: Storia del Costume in Italia by Rosita Levi]
Covet! Anything scanable? Or perhaps illustrations that can be photographed with a digital camera? I’m pretty sure I can get Giuseppe to translate the Italian for me.
[Re: 12th century visit by an Arab named Ibn-Giubair to the Norman court in Sicily.]
Yes. One of his quotes forms the foundation for my theory that Norman Sicilians wore Arab garb most of the time, Byzantine for “dress up” and Italian and Norman whenever they took a notion.
Ibn Jubayr, “Viaggio in Sicilia” in Delle cose di Sicilia
“The Christian women of this city seem Muslim in appearance: They speak Arabic fluently and wear capes and veils like our women. On the feast day they appeared dressed in silken robes embroidered in gold, and wrapped themselves in splendid mantles and colored veils, and walked in golden slippers. They proceeded toward their churches, or better still their dens, adorned with all the ornaments of Muslim women, with jewels, with paints, and with perfumes. And, to make a literary joke, we remembered the verse of the poet:
“He who one day enters a church, will come upon antelopes and gazelles.”
I first ran across Jubayr in a charming little book called ON PERSEPHONE’S ISLAND, by Mary Taylor Simeti.
The down-side is that the series of books is going for about $3000 now *and* its in Italian.
Sigh, two or three years ago, I would have bought it in a heartbeat. Not these days.
I got them on ILL here in Portland but was only able to use them in the library.
I’ll see if I can do the same.
Persona wise, Isabeau’s father is a younger son of Brittany who made his way south with the Huateville’s. Mom was a “Greek” from Cyprus. (Sugar money) I haven’t done anything really “good” in years. I have uncounted projects in the works. I just need to finish something!
~ Isabeau du Lis Noire
Message #1015, April 14, 2003
My current research is on the material culture of 12th-century Sicily with a book coming out down the road. Is there anything in particular I can help you with at the moment?
P.S. Katrine, would you happen to have Mistress Kathryn of Hindscroft’s email address? Thank you.
~ Nancy Spies
Message #1014, April 14, 2003
Thank you! Suggested visual and written sources for women’s garb 1130, give or take 50 or so years?
Norwich is still the foundation of the fledgling 12th Century/Sicilian section of my library. The volumes listed below are currently on my Amazon Wish List. Given current economics, I need to buy wisely. If you would care to comment on any of them I would very much appreciate it.
Mosaics of Norman Sicily
– Otto Demus
Medieval Sicily: The First Absolute State (Sicilian Studies V.2)
– Henry Barbera
The Administration of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily (the Medieval Mediterranean)
– Hiroshi Takayama
The Age of Robert Guiscard: Southern Italy and the Norman Conquest
– Graham Loud
Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean, 1100 – 1400 (Collected Studies Series, No CS 250)
– David Abulafia
Messages in the Mosaic: The Royal Programmes of Norman Sicily, 1130 – 1187 (Clarendon Studies in the History of Art)
– Eve Borsook
History of Sicily: Medieval Sicily 800 – 1713
– Denis Mack Smith
The Two Italies
– A. Abulafia
Arabic Administration in Norman Sicily: the Royal Diwan
– Jeremy Johns
Thank you again. I
look forward to seeing you published.
~ Isabeau
Message #1016, April 14, 2003
Re: Mosaics of Norman Sicily by Otto Demus
I tried to get this one on ILL – was denied!!!
I suggest trying the book buying site
http://www.bookfinder.com
It’s a monster and I find it considerably less frustrating than Amazon.
Happy book buying! 🙂
~ Katrine / Katherine Barich
Message #1017, April 14, 2003