Who is Philippa of Otterbourne?
I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a medieval and renaissance re-enactment society. I am known as Lady Philippa of Otterbourne. SCA members choose a period name to use within the society. Members also develop a “persona” or background story behind their character and name. My persona is still a work in progress, as I am interested in many different periods of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. My name is Norman-English, but since I also like the clothing of the 14th Century and the Elizabethan Era, I like to say that there was a Philippa of Otterbourne born every few generations. Many Philippas but each one was English, played the harp, and dabbled in the scribal arts.
Pictured left is my device (or what most non-SCA people would call a coat of arms). It contains an otter rampant and three harps in chief.
I reside in Illinois in the Chicago suburbs, which means I live within the boundaries of the Middle Kingdom of the SCA. I am part of the Midlands Region and my local group is the Shire of Rokkehealden. I serve as the shire's Chatelaine, which means I am the officer who welcomes newcomers and helps them as they get involved in the SCA. I've been a member of the Society since 2001 and am very active at the local level.
My main interests within the SCA are early music (harping) and calligraphy & illumination. Manuscripts during period were often adorned with amazing art; painted in bright colors and gilded with gold.
I am part of the Rokkehealden Scriptorium — our shire's local group of scribes —which includes members from neighboring groups, as well. We meet several times a month to work on projects. The awards given out at event courts are accompanied by “scrolls” created by the Kingdom's scribes. The Rokkehealden Scriptorium was presented with an Award of the Grove in 2003 for its work in furthering the scribal arts. Our beautiful scroll was done by Lady Ellen of the Scholars.
I am also a member of a household called the Silken Petals, Fellowship of Scribes. Within the Society, like-minded individuals gather together to form households. Membership in households is by invitation only and it is a great honor to be asked to join one.
I received my Award of Arms (AoA) in September 2003 which gives me the right to bear the title Lady. Unfortunately, I framed this beautiful scroll after sending off thank you notes to both the illuminator and the calligrapher and I didn't keep a note of their names to post here. My apologies for the oversight.
I also received an Award of the Acanthus Leaf — a Barony of White Waters award — in December of 2003 for service to the Barony in the form of scribal work. The drawing and illumination on this lovely scroll was done by Lady Akiko Catherine O'Brien of the Lost Lands and was inspired by a Rouen 1465 Book of Hours. The calligraphy was done by Lady Ambr Stormwatch. My first Silken Petals scroll! It's extra special when the scroll is done by people you know and in your own household.
At the Tree-Girt-Sea Twelfth Night Event in January 2005, I was given an Award of the Purple Fret in recognition of the service I've given as Chatelaine and deputy Seneshal for the Shire of Rokkehealden. I was extremely surprised and want to thank all the shire members for making this happen. My scroll was done by Lady Fiona Caoindealbhain and is based on a page in the Beaufort Hours — England or Netherlands — 15th Century. If you look closely, you'll see that Lady Fiona has incorporated both the harp (azure) and the otter (or) from my device. This marks my second Silken Petals scroll! Two Petals down, three more to go! (Just kidding! I'm NOT trolling for awards).
I find calligraphy and illumination to be very exciting. I've never considered myself to be artistic, and my drawing and painting skills are rudimentary. Still, I get an amazing sense of accomplishment when I finish a scroll and perhaps try a new technique or do something I've never tried before. I've a long way to go, but I certainly feel like I've moved on from the days when I said all I could draw was a stick figure!
What is the SCA?
The Society for Creative Anachronism is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the study of the history, culture, and arts of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The SCA is part of the “living history” movement. It is a re-enactment society much like the American Revolutionary War and Civil War groups. This means that members take a hand-on approach to the study of history. We learn about the history of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance through selectively recreating aspects of life from the period.
While similar to groups who re-enact the Civil War Era, the Revolutionary War Era, the Victorian Age, the SCA has its own set of challenges not found among these groups. Most re-enactment groups are concerned with a small span of history. The scope and period of the SCA covers centuries and makes it possible for a 9th century Viking to feast with a 16th century Elizabethan. The adherence to period practices is based on the individual and his or her persona.
The SCA holds social events, such as tournaments and feasts, where members attempt to re-create the ambiance and practice the arts and sciences of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Members wear historically accurate clothing, practice the forms of fighting done in Europe prior to 1600 AD, and practice skills in calligraphy, needlework, weaving, leatherworking, metalworking, brewing, heraldry, etc.
To learn more about the SCA…
