[Leo Todeschini]

I have been involved in a large contract making reproduction items for Dover Castle in the UK and have now made a few pieces for the costumed interpreters that will be working there. One of the interpreters will be portraying Prince John and I have made a belt and eating knife for this character.

Money for us was of course a limiting factor more than it would have been for him, so I have tried to provide as much bang for the buck as possible without going crazy on detail. The other limiting factor is that we know very little about eating knives from 1180 especially for high status individuals, so I had to make it up - this is my interpretation of what could have been limited by both their styles, designs and my available budget.

The blade is single edged and is of whittle tang construction going into a handle of alternating layers of bone (should have been ivory really) and black horn with 24ct gold plated spacers and bolsters. The scabbard is a 2 layer moulded scabbard with a 13thC motif on it, buut I figured they did like anthropromophic decoration and that he may also be ahead of his time.

The scabbard is the same red that was colour specified for me for all the kings gear I made for the castle and the whole thing clashes very well - subtelty was not the objective.

The belt is in the same red and has 24ct plated fittings and has the royal leopard stamped in along its length, the studs have the cross motif found on Henry II's coins.

I have also attached some pictures of the Kings items, also for Dover. Again money is an object so these are not as opulent as they should be.

The metal fittings and rivets are gold plated and the pommel and cantle of the saddle are gold leafed. The leather is all Kings red and all the woods used are English even though they are painted or covered, the leather is all veg tan and is stuffed with wool.

Helmet - based on a bought piece, dismatled, modified, reassembled with the addition of etched and gold plated face plate detailing, gold rivets and a repousse crown rivetted in place.

Saddle - based as well as I could on manuscript evidence and is carved from maple and upholstered in leather and wool with carved and leafed pommel and cantle, with hand made girth strap buckles and stirrups.

Sword - all fittings gold plated, leather cord wrapped grip with twisted gold wire detailing and engraved and etched pommel infilled with red enamel (fake I am afraid). Royal leopard and Henricus Rex Anglorum; Henry King of the English. Blade has engraved makers mark of Gilbertus. Alluding to a recent discussion on whether makers would leave off their mark on request, I had to go one further and mark it with somebody elses name.

Shield - early heater form with gold plated rivets and washers, leather pad upholstered with wool. Shield was constructed from planked lime, gessoed and the painted. The painting was executed by Meg Surrey who also worked on the project and although it is not to my taste is apparently stylistically correct.

I hope you like the items and as I have said, Dover is well worth a look

[Allen Andrews]

Nice kit. I especially like the stacked handle eating knife.

[Tim Lison]

Gorgeous! I love the sword, it has a cool grip. The stacked knife is really, really nice too! All of it is worthy of a king however! Great job! I have to agree that the painting on the shield is not my taste either. I don't like the front paws of the lion. They look like back paws..... That's the only possible complaint as far as I see it. Everything else is spot on!

[R D Moore]

Well done, Tod! These items are beautiful. It's easy to imagine what you could do with an unlimited budget! You're an amazing artist.

[Leo Todeschini]

Thanks guys, kind words indeed. What was really nice for mr though was that I got to work on items like the saddle, that it is unlikely I would have been offered as a single piece comission and there were enough items like that to make the whole project very interesting.

Tod

[Lloyd Clark]

I really love that saddle Did you build it to fit a particular horse?

[Leo Todeschini]

[Hugo Voisine]

I wonder what kind of "limited budget" would allow for so much concentrated awesomeness. And you really should do more swords Todd, this one looks beyond great.

[David Etienne]

Congratulations, Tod ! Your work is amazing, as usual !
I second the comments about your sword, and I would be pleased to see additional pics and stats about it.

Cheers,

David