(no subject)

[madbaker]

I am in NY without incident, which is the best result when flying cross-country. Dinner in a few hours, then a call for school. Conference tomorrow. I'm trying to ensure I have spare time for a museum trip.

Lots of snow on the ground, but it's clear and about 45 right now, so I'm happy about that.

What I'm reading: Paul McCauley, The Quiet War

Comments

Are you going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

If yes, can you see if you can find the trencher mentioned in Caton’s "Fables and fruit-trenchers teach as much”? They are rectangular trenchers decorated with knot work and floral motifs. Each has nested rectangular patterns, similar to the concentric circles of the round trenchers. The innermost rectangle has densely packed text.
“Set of eight banqueting trenchers and their case, English, seventeenth century. Sycamore with painted and gilded decoration, each 4 9/16 by 5 11/16 inches.

Re: Are you going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I can look, but I didn't bring a camera so I don't know how useful it would be...

Re: Are you going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

If you can write down what the curator's card says, that would be helpful. Or even just verify the trenchers are on display. The only descriptions I have are from 1845, and 19th century historians are frustratingly vague.

If you have all the time in the world, I'd ask you to transcribe the text of all the trenchers. But that's a hard task even when I've got a really good photo.

Metropolitan Museum of Art?

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

As best I could determine, they were not on display.

Re: Metropolitan Museum of Art?

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

Rats! Thank you very much for checking. I'll try writing to the curators again, I guess.
I hope you had a good time, and have a dull trip home. :)

Or, the The Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum?

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

Please look for "Dessert plates, written and decorated in London, England, in 1595." These ones are round, very thin plates of beech, about 5 to 6 inches in diameter, and have verses like:
Was euer mann so matched as i,
I speacke it not in geste;
For ife my wife haue not hir will,
I neuer cann haue reste.