#Artifact Crafting

[rosieandthemoon]

Hydra Brooch

[sinoheritage]

Traditional Chinese gold bracelets. Made using an ancient craftsmanship called filigree inlay 花丝手镯

Beijing and Hebei filigree inlay techniques were historically the most famous and renowned in the industry.

Examples of Chinese bracelets from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1644 and 1644-1912 respectively).

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Ancient Necklace with Mosaic Glass Beads, from the Eastern Mediterranean, c.100 BCE-100 CE: this necklace is composed of 30 glass beads, most of which are decorated with stylized faces

From the John Paul Getty Museum:

The beads are made of multi-colored opaque glass and are decorated with heads and floral designs. The necklace is in good condition; some beads are chipped or cracked.

The exact origin of this piece is unknown, but it can be traced back to the Eastern Mediterranean, where it was likely made by a Greek or Roman artist.

Each bead has a width of about 1.2cm (roughly half an inch); they're decorated with remarkably intricate details, and each face is depicted in its own unique style.

Sources & More Info:

John Paul Getty Museum: Necklace with Mosaic Glass Beads

[ziseviolet]

Hi love ya blog! I’ve been wondering how effective were the coir rain jackets?

Hi! Thanks for loving my blog, and sorry for taking ages to reply! (image via)

Chinese rain capes/raincoats are called 蓑衣/suoyi, and they are mainly made from local materials - in southern China, straw and coir grass are mostly used, as well as brown hair and brown leaves; in the north, thatch and cattail grass are mostly used. It takes about two to three days to make a suoyi by hand. They are typically worn with bamboo hats called 斗笠/douli.

Below - Ming dynasty illustration of a suoyi and douli (x):

Suoyi has a long history, originating before the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC). Although I haven't worn one myself, sources state that they were very effective. Compared with umbrellas, suoyi was not only better at keeping out the rain, but also freed up the two hands to work. Farmers liked to wear it on rainy days, and fishermen often wore it when fishing during rainy and snowy days. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, people travelling during the rainy season usually brought along suoyi (source).

Below - 19th-century late Qing dynasty suoyi made of palm and straw fiber, plus bamboo douli and basket (1, 2):

The tradition of working in the wind and rain wearing suoyi and douli continued until the late 1960s in China, after which they were gradually replaced with modern rain gear. Today, suoyi has become more of a tourist souvenir and decorative object than a practical item. Nevertheless, it can still be seen being worn by some elderly farmers and fisherman.

Below - a cormorant fisherman wearing suoyi and douli in Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi (x):

I highly recommend reading the following article for more information on suoyi's history, craftsmanship, and current status: Suoyi: RuCai Lyu’s rain cape and its ongoing tradition of protection.

For additional references, please see my suoyi tag.

If anyone has more info, please share! ^^

Hope this helps!

[useless-catalanfacts]

Siurells from the shops Melicotó and Antònia Amengual.

Siurells are traditional whistles from Mallorca (Balearic Islands). They are made of clay painted white with lime and with lines in red and green, and are usually in the shape of people or animals.

They have been a typical present for children for centuries. It is unknown how old they are. Though there are theories that say they originated during the Islamic period (800s-1200s) or relate them to Ancient Cretan archaeological findings, nothing has been proven nor has enough basis to be considered reliable.

But we can speak with much more certainty of the last couple of centuries. Historically, siurells were made by the wives of potters and, even nowadays, the artisans left in the island who make them are all women. Siurells are still sold, but the artisans find that the younger generations don't want to pick up the trade, as happens with many other artisanal jobs nowadays.

[chinoiseriene]

Chinese gold vessels known as zhihu 执壶, mostly used for wine (rice wine, grape wine, grains wine, etc) from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Since ancient times, gold has been considered in China a symbol of wealth and social status. Gold was usually reserved for decoration or the making of luxury objects, such as ceremonial tableware and jewellery.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the production of gold objects and ornaments developed widely. Some of the most beautiful pieces were enhanced with precious stones: rubies, spinels, blue, yellow or green sapphires, or any other rare material, such as white or green jade, freshwater pearls, and kingfisher feathers.

Given the value of the metal from which these objects are made, they are relatively rare survivors. As most of the gold items produced during this period were intended for personal use – and not as tomb goods – the ones that have survived are linked to the imperial family.

[suzeequbee]

been making these tiny cross stitch trinkets. it's fun coming up with the designs ..i sketch them in procreate, and then stitch em up! the last one with legend of zelda triforce of courage artifact didn't have a wooden backing, so i added the tiny lightning bolt patch found on etsy (PaperPailShop)

[the-cricket-chirps]

Food serving vessel (dui)

China

early 6th century BCE

[dragonagepolls]

Via anon: Not sure if this was on purpose or not, but there’s seven evanuris and seven companions in Veilguard, possibly one to represent each of the elven pantheon. Just curious on what people thought on which companion represented who if this were the case 🤔

There are actually 8 Evanuris but I like this idea so I'm going ahead with it and leaving out Mythal, because I think as the Great Protector she could be represented by the Veilguard as a whole.

[rustun]

Lámina Museo de Afganistán

Una de las colecciones milenarias y variada en materialidad y formas, que corre el peligro de ser destruida o saqueada, como lo fue en 2001 cuando en el museo se presentaron las fuerzas talibanes armados con mazas y a continuación procedieron a destruir más de 2.750 piezas de arte, al tratarse de representaciones humanas, animales o artísticas, que son prohibidas por su islam acrítico.

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22 x 28 cm

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

500-year-old Snake Figure from Peru (Incan Empire), c. 1450-1532 CE: this fiber craft snake was made from cotton and camelid hair, and it has a total length of 86.4cm (about 34in)

This piece was crafted by shaping a cotton core into the basic form of a snake and then wrapping it in structural cords. Colorful threads were then used to create the surface pattern, producing a zig-zag design that covers most of the snake's body. Some of its facial features were also decorated with embroidery.

A double-braided rope is attached to the distal end of the snake's body, near the tip of its tail, and another rope is attached along the ventral side, where it forms a small loop just behind the snake's lower jaw. Similar features have been found in other serpentine figures from the same region/time period, suggesting that these objects may have been designed for a common purpose.

Very little is known about the original function and significance of these artifacts; they may have been created as decorative elements, costume elements, ceremonial props, toys, gifts, grave goods, or simply as pieces of artwork.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art argues that this figure might have been used as a prop during a particular Andean tradition:

In a ritual combat known as ayllar, snakes made of wool were used as projectiles. This effigy snake may have been worn around the neck—a powerful personal adornment of the paramount Inca and his allies—until it was needed as a weapon. The wearer would then grab the cord, swing the snake, and hurl it in the direction of the opponent. The heavy head would propel the figure forward. The simultaneous release of many would produce a scenario of “flying snakes” thrown at enemies.

The same custom is described in an account from a Spanish chronicler named Cristóbal de Albornoz, who referred to the tradition as "the game of the ayllus and the Amaru" ("El juego de los ayllus y el Amaru").

The image below depicts a very similar artifact from the same region/time period.

Why Indigenous Artifacts Should be Returned to Indigenous Communities.

Sources & More Info:

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Snake Ornament

Serpent Symbology: Representations of Snakes in Art

Journal de la Société des Américanistes: El Juego de los ayllus y el Amaru

Yale University Art Gallery: Votive Fiber Sculpture of an Anaconda

[wouas]

[uncanny-tranny]

Part of why I think it's important to pick up a skill that requires challenge or skill is not only that it can be a great experience to have, but it teaches you so many things you never expected.

I've realized the reason I feel ancient crocheting is that this is a skill humans have been doing for thousands of years: textiling, cloth-making, and creating. Technology is amazing, don't get me wrong, but I think many people take for granted what technology has done for us, and we forget sometimes that these skills take work and effort, and continuous effort!

It doesn't matter what you pick up as a skill or craft, and you absolutely should do it in a way that accommodates you, but finding a skill or craft and doing it will teach you things you never considered.

[thecranewivesrpf]

Im Going To End Up On The News

[popsicle-stick]

its been several weeks and im still thinking about the hard switch by owen pomery im crazyy. im going crazy. the most striking thing about such a short graphic novel for me is how harsh the world was depicted as yet how badly i wanted to be immersed in it. god. man

[noisysanctuaryspy]

The AI ​​threw the gun down and said, "You're a Hulk now, you don't need this."🤣