Historical fun at the Dacian party

The Dacian party announced for the 20th of August at Camp Virtus, near Cluj, envisages lots of fun and competitive outdoor contests. One can shoot with the bow and arrow, try out the ancient sling, compete in arm wrestling while standing, pull the rope or even toss the caber. All activities are free of charge! Join the party to have fun, but also learn about the Dacians and ancient history in Transylvania. The event if family-friendly, as children can use less powerful bows, play ancient board games, or experiment being an archaeologist for the day - discovering mysterious artifacts that they can take home. See you at Camp Virtus next Saturday at midday!

 

Wrist related things

Creating leather cuff bracelets, I took an interest in similar and connected items on Etsy. My "wrist related things" treasury focuses on such finds, including bracelets, cuff, jewelry and leather accessories alike, but also camera straps, keyboard wrist rests, temporary tattoos and watches. 

See also the previous post on the Celtic knot tooled leather wristband that started the search.

Enjoy!

Goddess Gruia in Transylvanian mandorla

The making of Goddess Gruia in Glory - using two matching lino plates

 

Color variants of the linoprint

Goddess Gruia is the only living goddess from the magic land of Transylvania. Read more about her in the specialized monograph HERE. This cult image shows the goddess surrounded by the cosmic symbols (moon, sun, stars) and the landmarks of her homeland: medieval architecture (mainly the fortified Saxon churches) and beautiful nature (with the typical haystacks -capita).
Buy this pieces of original art from the Etsy temple HERE . The piece of art is a contact relic (has been touched by the goddess) and you will immediately feel the benefices. You will love and accept yourself as you are, you will work hard for small money but you will enjoy your job, you will feel the urge to visit pharmacy museums, you will be peaceful and creative, though not able to draw a straight line, your stove will never malfunction, and the world will generally seem a happier place!

Dacian party near Cluj on August 20th

If no other plans come to mind or if you are interested in ancient history, reenactment and outdoor activities, you could join the Dacian party! The even is organized at Camp Virtus, in Salicea, near Cluj, by the reenactment NGO Virtus Antiqua and includes interactive workshops (target practice with bow and arrow and with ancient-model slings, an adapted variant of the caber toss, skandenberg=arm wrestling standing up), tasting of ancient Dacian recipes, while the young can fly kites and try a bit of archaeology.

The event is a great opportunity to learn about ancient history hands-on. You can meet the Dacians, try their costumes and weapons, train a bit, taste their food, and discover how historians obtain and analyze accurate information of this fascinating civilization.

There are also prizes to be won and money to be donated (all activities are free of charge) - the funds shall be used by the NGO to build a replica of an ancient Dacian, Iron-Age house.

Join the Facebook event CHEF DACIC for updates.

See how to reach CAMP VIRTUS on their website. 

 

Buffalo skull leather wallet

The most recent listing of the Proper Leather Studio on Etsy is a bi-fold handmade leather wallet with tooled motif - Bucranium (buffalo skull). It is a unique item, entirely made by hand.
We took great care with dying. Outside it is a very dark brown/black hand-mixed dye and saddle tan Gel Antique, creating a naturalistic color effect for the skull. See HERE how it was made. Inside it is black, with six black side pockets for credit cards.

This item is made of high quality Veg-tanned leather. Completely handmade (no machines). Leather dyed and protected with several layers of acrylic finish (Sheene and Resolene). Polished and waxed edges.
Outside: 1.6-2.0 mm (4 to 5 oz) single bend European hide
Inside: 1 mm (2.5 oz) calf hide
Folded measurements: 12 x 9.5 cm / 4.7 x 3.7 inches.

Due to the high-quality leather and craftsmanship, this wallet will last good years of use. Nevertheless, do not submerge it into water and avoid acids and corrosives. Leather is not a waterproof material and if submerged, it absorbs water and might deform of loose some of the color. Cared for, it will only look better in time. Also, it needs to soften through wear a bit, to reach its optimal functions.

Goddess Gruia - a monograph

Writing a monograph is difficult in itself, but when dealing with a very recent, brand-new religious/cultural/artistic phenomenon such as the cult of Goddess Gruia, the task is Herculean. Still, I have taken it upon myself to bring light onto this fascinating goddess as I believe the result to bring happiness and amusement to many people. Here are the first few pages of the monograph in question, or as Google books say, a snippet view of the much-awaited publication.

Celtic knot leather cuff

The latest creation of the Proper Leather Studio is a Celtic knot leather cuff in black and yellow with intricate details. The cuff bracelet is made of high quality veg-tanned leather (1.6-2.0 mm (4 to 5 oz) single bend European hide.). It is entirely handmade, from pattern transfer to incision, tooling, dying, and finishing. The background was dyed by sponge and the pattern with a small brush. As for the finish, the bracelet is protected with several layers of acrylic finish (sheene and resolene) and the edges and back are polished and waxed. The closing system of choice is with leather lace as it allows for a good fitting on almost all wrist sizes and is not uncomfortable to wear as metal snaps usually are.

Gladiator fights in Cluj-Napoca

Transylvania History Days, held on the banks of the Somes in Cluj-Napoca between the 29th and 31th of July included a rich display of historical activities. Virtus Antiqua was among the invited NGOs and the team provided the usual display of gladiatorial combats, presentations, religious rituals, though it was not all blood and sports, but love make its way as well. One of the Furies has fallen in love with one of the gladiators and we are all following this development with interest as it might bring changes to Ludus Memni (the school of gladiators from Virtus Antiqua) in the future! :)

See photos from the show HERE. 

The online temple of Goddess Gruia

Goddess Gruia is the only living goddess, from the mythical land of Transylvania. She is the patron of asymmetry, self-love and self-irony, peace, women museographers, hypochondriacs, slave reenactors, women artists, fat ballerinas, small business owners, tile stoves and many other groups of people, abstract concepts, and things ! 

Goddess Gruia - cult image, available as contact relic at the temple

Her cult focuses on her online temple - the Etsy Shop of the same name and on her Sancta Sanctorum, the inner chamber where she actually touches pieces of art that become contact-relics.

 Temple sign

Buy such pieces of original art and you will immediately feel the benefices. You will love and accept yourself as you are, you will work hard for small money but you will enjoy your job, you will feel the urge to visit pharmacy museums, you will be peaceful and creative, though not able to draw a straight line, your stove will never malfunction, and the world will generally seem a happier place!

 Amuletic depiction of Goddess Gruia, soon to be made available at the temple

For more details on the goddess, how to worship her, and the analysis of this fascinating new phenomenon of popular religiosity, wait for the monograph that is currently under print!

 

Bucranium leather wallet

The Proper Leather Studio is working on another project, a new folding handmade leather wallet with bucranium - tooled decorative motif consisting of a buffalo's skull,a motif of ancient Roman inspiration. The intended special effect is to be achieved through a Leather Sheen (three times over), dying the background by hand in a mix color (very dark violet brown) and then applying over the entire surface orange Gel Antique (saddle tan). This lazure/patina effect on nuances of orange/yellow/brown renders the organic color of the animal skull. Soon on Etsy!

Rose honey

The FOCUS exhibit of August 2016 at the History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca deals with one of the basic apothecary products in entire Europe, i.e. rose honey.

Rose honey, MEL. ROSATUM (or Mellis Rosae) was one of the most common and often used products of the medieval and pre-modern pharmacies. For his reason it is also known as Mel rosatum commune, sive foliatum (common rose honey, as there were other variations as well). Apothecary dispensatories mention different way of preparing it. Some pharmacists mixed red roses (Rosa centifolia) in honey and left the mix in the sun; others boiled the petals, not to dry but not too fresh either, in honey, while yet others obtained a juice from the petals and then mixed it with honey.

The product was used as such, due to its emollient and lenitive (calming pain) properties, but was also an ingredient in various composite drugs (especially gargles and creams).

The History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca includes just two jars for rose honey, both dated to the nineteenth century and made of porcelain. The first was used in the Mathias Corvinus pharmacy in Cluj (1815), while the second was once used in Iaşi, in the Engel pharmacy there.

1815 porcelain apothecary jar from Cluj