Apiarist

2010-11-02T17:19:28Z

Robin:

An '''apiarist''' is a [[bee]]keeper. In [[period]], these people were [[craftsman|craftsmen]], although there weren't as many of them as say carpenters or butchers. They were the source of [[wax]] (used for hardening [[leather]], making [[candle]]s, sealing letters, [[jewellery]] making) and [[honey]] (natural sweetener, also used in [[mead]]).

Apiarists would often maintain many hives. Hives, known as [[skep]]s, were made of woven straw in a large cup shape, and could hold about 18 litres. No more than 40 were recommended to be held on a quarter acre of land.

An interesting article regarding beekeeping in period is by Edmund Southerne, "A treatise concerning the right use and ordering of bees", 1593.

The [[patron]] [[saint]] for beekeeping may be one of the [[St Bartholomew]]s. The bee->honey->mead->much joy association was one of the major reasons behind the choice of names for the [[SCA]] [[College of St Bartholomew]].
==External links:==
*[http://www.florilegium.org/files/ANIMALS/Beekeeping-AS-art.html| Beekeeping art]
[[category:arts]]
[[category:occupation (medieval)]]

Also see [http://www.superiorpapers.com/ essays]

Needle

2010-11-02T17:18:29Z

Robin:

A '''needle''' is a ubiquitous item in [[medieval]] history. They are a [[shaft]] with a point at one end and an [[eye]] at the other. Needles have been found made of [[bone]] and [[iron]] needles are known from at least [[Anglo-Saxon]] [[England]]. Typically the needle is used for [[sewing]] where the needle is driven through a material such as [[leather]] or [[fabric|cloth]] and a thread such as [[linen]], [[wool]] or [[silk]] is drawn through.

[[category:sewing]]
[[category:tool]]

Also see [http://www.college-paper.org/custom-term-paper.html custom term papers]

Cunnan - User contributions [en]

Apiarist

Needle