[Regia-NA] Rolland's Letter to the North American's Part 2

[list-regia-na@lig.net]

>From Roland:

I spent a fair bit of time looking at the traders to
see what was readily at hand. In doing so I collected
some business cards which dont recommend the trader in
any way other than as a source, but just indicates that
they had this item to hand. My comments are my own and
are no way a condemnation. It goes without saying that
in most cases they had other materials to hand as well
that fell out of my area of expertise.

Beads By Sigulf. 
Richard W Pierson. IN 47906 ( 765 ) 463-4071
karlnar@yahoo.com

He makes hand made historically accurate glass beads
but it would a good idea to find out how good he is by
commissioning some from reports not always so easy as
its difficult to render colour of beads in words.


Kolls Authentic Kreations.
Lord Valdis of Gotland mka Ken Koll. PA 17268 ( 717 )
762 3878 norseart@comcast.net

I hope its the correct guy anyway he carves horn etc.
My only criticism is that its too good too deep. His
work ( or was it his wife? ) is very good but from a
reproduction point of view of original period work it
needs tempering.


Cats Eye Inc.
Anton & Cindy-Doll Skutchan. NE 68505 ( 402 ) 797-2005
catseyeinc@msn.com

If you are into fur then visit these chaps. I found
some horse cannon bones ( the shin ) to make Viking
skates here. They also do plenty of other skeletal bits
etc and some of the more scary bits as well.
 

The Amber Fox.
Richard C. Fox. MI 48306 ( 248 ) 656-0487
amberfox2000@comcast.net

These guys werent alone in providing amber and there
was a lot of it about. They also supplied pearls as
well. The thing with any of these is that they sold
true beads and not the schrapnel that Vikings would
have just thrown away. So when you next buy any amber
necklaces, just ensure they are true beads ( faceted as
well ) and not anything else.  Also lean towards true
Baltic amber and not the amber that is excavated from
the earth which is to the eye somewhat earthy as one
might imagine.


Thor Thors Hammer.
Sean Chappell. NC 27525 ( 919 ) 528-2966.
thorthor@mindspring.com

This chap is in the early stages of making some really
nice silver and brass/bronze hand wrought and hand made
jewellery, with the odd cast piece. In my opinion he
needs patronising and encouraging with some commissions
from documented finds.


Silvershell Musical Instruments
Albert E Winters. MA 02738 ( 508 ) 748-0331.
www.silvershellmusic.com

What impressed me was the price of their instruments.
Very affordable. They dont do kits so that you can muck
it up for yourself, which is a shame.  I suspect you
may need to be anal about the specification of your
order and how you will want your harp etc to be made.
 

The Highland Arms Merchant.
CT 06320 ( 860 ) 437-3409. www.sussen.com

In the future ( if they are hounded enough ) they hope
to get real pattern welded blades made in India. At the
moment they have a type of pattern welded blade but its
not Viking or Anglo-Saxon in style. Very affordable
once again even though its not quite there as yet.
 

Green Mountain Leather Craft.
Charles Wright ( Ivar ). VT 05143 ( 802 ) 875-1674. 

Now I have to admit that I cant recall why I have his
card too much beer??
 

Spotted Pony Traders.
Jeff & Cindy Kruger. OH 44641-0277. 1-800-875-6553.
www.spottedponytraders.com

I have already mislaid their card but I did buy some
leather there. They had some very sexy Elk skins and
Moose hides. There was a wealth of other bits and bobs
as well as antler as well.
 

Glen Cross Pottery.
David and Mary Cross ( Foote and Grainne ). Orangeville
Ontario. ( 519 ) 941-6048. grainney@sympatico.ca

I include these chaps as they did a mean Marg and Rita
and did pots as well. Do talk to them about specialist
commission Saxon Terracotta ware and what passes for
Viking pots, as the Vikings themselves were terrible
potters. They also have a kick-ass Saxon Tent.
 

Impedimenta.
Our very own Tom Sweeting. ( Snorri ). MD 20770
www.impedimenta.com

Tom has been foolish enough to spend all his money by
coming this direction to source replicas etc made by
artisans in Europe particularly in Denmark. He has an
eclectic selection of artefacts and books often in
Danish or German ( not even available to us either ) so
do brush up on your languages. If you have a craving
for something more unusual, contact him.


This list is not exhaustive in any way. No one was
making Regia style shields for instance and I havent
dealt with cloth as the likes of Thora Sharptooth for
instance can advise you with a very high degree of
expertise, but its a start.

Im still here for questions not too non-specific
though. Please dont ask Who were the Vikings? as I will
be rude and ignore you.

Cheers, Roland.