Laurel Prize

Laurel Prize is is an Arts and Sciences exhibition that runs every year at Rowany Festival. At Laurel Prize all may show completed and in-progress works, and receive feedback from members of the Order of the Laurel and the general populace. Some Laurels like to give small tokens of appreciation to those whose work we like most. This is not a competition, and is not judged in a formal manner -- no score sheets, no written critiques. We chat to the exhibitors, encourage them to talk about how their projects started and where they got their inspiration, suggest other people they could talk to, explain how to do difficult bits or pass on special tricks we've learned, and learn lots of things we didn't know.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Laurel Prize

What is Laurel Prize?

Laurel Prize is an Arts and Sciences display sponsored and organised by members of the order of the laurel. It is designed for non-laurel artists and artisans throughout the kingdom to display their works to members of the order and also to members of the populace.

Laurel Prize is not a competition and isn't part of the Kingdom Arts and Sciences competition, but a high standard of entries is usually obtained each year and all members of the order make their best effort to view what is on display, read any documentation presented, and carefully evaluate the standard of work shown. Members of the order may make comments and give feedback to the artisans presenting their work, and also award small prizes of their own choosing to works that particularly impress them.

It is one of the highest focus annual arts and sciences events in the Kingdom. We like to consider it the A&S equivalent of Rowany Festival's Fighter Auction Tourney.

Where is Laurel Prize held?

There is an annual Laurel Prize held at Rowany Festival each year. This is generally speaking the largest of the Laurel Prizes held throughout the Kingdom. Other groups have in the past organised either a Laurel Prize or an A&S display similar to a Laurel Prize, this is not discouraged, however generally speaking when people say "Laurel Prize" without specifying any particular event then you can assume they are talking about the Laurel Prize held at festival.

Who is allowed to enter the Laurel Prize? Is it only for Laurels?

Any member of the populace who is not a laurel may enter the Laurel Prize. It is not for laurels to enter, it is only for non-laurels.

Who judges the entries for Laurel Prize?

The Laurel Prize is not a competition and there is no formal judging nor are entries awarded a score.

How is the winner of the Laurel Prize determined? How are prizes awarded?

The Laurel Prize is not a competition and there are no winners. In the first hour after the Laurel Prize opens, the entrants display their entries along with any documentation, and members of the order of the laurel wander about the entries and award prizes to any entries that they choose to. These prizes are normally small tokens meant for encouragement either hand-made or purchased by the laurel who awards them. They are not meant to be of any specific value, they are just small tokens just like a tassel you might win for entering a chivalric tournament.

After the first hour, other members of the populace are invited to view the display of entries that have been made for the laurel prize. This is similar to entries that are made at an A&S competition at a crown event, with judging done by judges chosen prior to the event and entries made available for the populace to view during and after the judging.

Do I Get Laurelled?

No, not just for entering the display.

Does my entry for Laurel Prize count towards the Annual Kingdom A&S competition?

No, it does not.

Does my entry have to be finished to enter it in to Laurel Prize?

No, it does not. Laurels quite enjoy seeing your work in progress.

Do you have to attend Rowany Festival to enter Laurel Prize?

If you are entering the Laurel Prize it is best if you can attend festival to answer any questions that laurels may have about your work. However if you are unable to attend then please feel free to send your work with another person to display on your behalf, and perhaps include some extra explanatory notes for laurels to read if the person you are sending your work with is unable to answer questions in detail.

If you are entering the research and documentation competition, then be aware that prize announcement will be done during court at festival, however you do not need to attend festival to enter. You may submit your entry on line, and if you win the prize then we will find someone from your local group or nearby to return the prize to you.

Research and Documentation Competition

For several years, beginning in 2012, there was a separate competition in addition to the Laurel Prize, for research and documentation. It was a competition, and there was a winner. However, this competition has not run in for some time.

We hope this competition will be offered in a new format in the near future. More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

Laurel Prize 2002

In 2002 we took some photos of the people and work on display at Laurel Prize.

Aprons by Helene du Puy

Helene du Puy.

Helene's beautiful pleated German aprons.

Armour by Sir Innigo

Some of this armour was made by Lord Kitan of St Florians (apprenticed to Leofric), and some by Sir Innigo Missaglia, from Ildhafn. The arms and legs were definitely made by Sir Innigo; I had a good conversation about the articulation with him. (It's smooth as, by the way.)

Elaborate German dress

Elaborate German dress - photos and creator.

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Elizabethan Clothing by Valeria de Borgia

Lady Valeria de Borgia, who made the ruff and shirt.

Elizabethan ruff and beautifully-made hand-stitched child's shirt, made by Lady Valeria de Borgia.

Embroidered Illuminated Capital

"Illuminated" initial embroidered in split-stitch

Embroidered Strawberry by Catalina

This unfinished piece is Catalina's first attempt at stump-work.

Lady who embroiders the strawberries.

Hat by Rohese de Fairhurst

Rohese de Fairhurst with her wonderfully silly hat.

Close-up of Rohese's hat.

Illumination and Embroidery by Katherine Alicia of Sarum

Katherine Alicia of Sarum from Riverhaven.

Some earlier work from this talented lady.

White-vine work by Katherine Alicia of Sarum.

Strewn-flower border - individual flowers well-executed, likewise overall design.

Applique and embroidery.

Later illumination, includes very nice ivy work and charming cat figures. Also some chain-stitch embroidery.

Mirror-work by Oonagh O'Neill

Oonagh O'Neill

Oognagh's mirror-work. She also does period jewellery, especially twisted-wire rings.

Music by Crispin Sexi and Rhiannon

Crispin Sexi (and Baby Sexi), in front of his music. Rhiannon (vocal performance) is on his left.

Or nué work by Marienna Jensdatter

Marienna Jensdatter, from Ildhafn, who is Rowan's apprentice.

Or nué work by Rowan's apprentice, Marienna Jensdatter from Ildhafn, very beautiful.

Sand-cast Bronze Plaque Belt

Sand-cast Bronze Plaque Belt.

Shoes and Clothes by Llewellyn ap Dafydd

Llewellyn ap Dafydd (Yseult's nephew) with some of his documentation.

Llewellyn's hand-made shoes.

Llewellyn's hand-made clothes, showing detail of silk-ribbon neck facing, running-stitched along both edges and whip-stitched at the bottom, plus hand-made button holes and buttons.

Laurel Prize 2012

In 2012 we took some more photos of the people and work on display at Laurel Prize run in the Great Hall at Rowany Festival. Here you can see the first hour of Laurel Prize where Laurels get to view and discuss the work of non-Laurels. In the second hour the general populace are invited to attend and see what is on show.

In addition to the Laurel Prize at Festival 2012, there was a research and documentation competition. The winners of that competition (it was a 2-way tie) were: Antonia di Lorenzo and Ásfríðr Úlfvíðardóttir

Brewing by Elena le Breustere

Elena gave tastes of her 15thC and 1669 brews.

Camping Equipment by Wulfwine o' Grimwald

Wulfwine shows off his tent and chair. He also had various other Dark-ages items of display.

Celtic Designs by Bran

Bran showing his dark-ages celtic design-work on wood and leather.

Fishing Flies by Jon Dai of the Lane

Jon has been working on 15thC fishing flies from "A Treatyse of Fyssynge Wth an Angle".

Gauntlet by Alfgeirr Agnarsson

Alfgeir has made a 15thC Milanese mitten gauntlet.

Gesso Work by Antonia di Lorenzo

Antonia is working on making a helmet crest and parade shield.

Lighting by Eleanor of Cathenes

Eleanor showed her experiments with rush pith and wax.

Pewter buttons ad Ypocras by Padraig Lowther

Padraig Lowther has been casting pewter for a couple of years and brewing for 10 years.

Preserved Food by Leoba of Ithingdun

Leoba showing her experiments in preserving meat and vegetables.

Laurel Prize 2013

Laurel Prize at Rowany Festival in 2013 was rather busy, with excellent work on display. Again we managed to get some photos for posterity.

Adeline de Montfort - Bestiary 2013

Adeline de Montfort's Bestiary in Latin, English C.1290, based on Aberdeen and Bodley 764.

Angus Macdougall - Roman Necklace 2013

Angus Macdougall from Mordenvale shows his 1st centrury Roman neclace - his first go at a new craft.

Antoinette Travallie - Plates 2013

Antoinette Travallie with 12thC Syrian underglaze plates.

Bess of Buckland - Underpants 2013

Bess of Buckland with her underwear model.

Bran - Celtic Designs 2013

Bran from St Florians with celtic designs.

Catalina de Gata - Swete Bag 2013

Catalina de Gata from Aneala with a 16thC swete bag she is making.

Christine Bess Puvaint - Doublet, Jerkin and hose 2013

Christine Bess Puvaint with her 1595 doublet, jerkin and hose, based off a portrait of George Silver.

Elena le Breustere - Assorted Brews 2013

Elena le Breuster from Innilgard gave tastings of bachet, quina wine, metheglin with various fruits, and honey rosat liqueur.

Elizabet Hunter - Research and planning for a period silk banner

Elizabet Hunter with her research and planning for making a period silk banner, part of her work as a Queen's Artisan.

Helouys le Poer - Caligraphy 2013

Helouys le Poer with her caligraphy on the topic of lemons.

Iseabail - Brewing Technique Experiments 2013

Iseabail with white meathe, stawberry wine (brewed in a linnen bag) , bouchet (using caramelised honey), lemmon mead (with herbs) and a small currants wine.