Animal

Animals crop up in many areas of the SCA:

• Feasts: All manner of animals, from birds and beasts, to rodents and fish, can be marinated, boiled, stewed, roasted, baked, fried, stuffed, preserved and eaten!

• Heraldry: Animals can be used as heraldic charges.

• A&S:
  • rearing of animals:falconry
  • animal products:
    • skin (Leatherwork)
    • fur - to line or decorate clothing
    • wool spinning and weaving
    • felt - made by compressing wool or fur
    • flesh cooking (subtelties, or as mentioned above under 'feasts')
    • feathers millinery (feathers, felt or leather can be used)
    • horn - used to make a variety of objects including tablet weaving cards
    • ivory - a denser type of horn from elephant, hippopotamus or walrus, prized to make carved objects eg cosmetic cases, chess pieces, statues,
    • bones - make a variety of objects including spoons,needles, statuettes and games and toys (e.g. knuckebones, children's teething rings) also food setting agents eg gelatine (is this medieval?, I'm sure marrow was)
    • fertilizer
    • misc - dyes (various bits from animals were used in pigments/paints and dyestuffs) eg [tyrian purple] from molluscs, perfumes (musk from deer)

• • depictions of animals:embroidery (animals are depicted), weaving

• Combat: Some parts of the SCA permit equestrian events. Various animals are used in war scenarios (not real ones, of course!), such as goat/sheep stealing or hunting of the deer. Stuffed sheep also make excellent combat archery targets.