11thc Star mantle
Sterenmantel of Heinrich II

The Order of the Laurel recognises those within the Kingdom of Lochac who show true excellence in the many arts and sciences.

Following the success of the Pelican Cloak project, a competition to design the Lochac Laurel Cloak was held at Midwinter 2012. Mistress Rowan Perigrynne won the competition with a design based on the Sternenmantel (Star Mantle) of Heinrich II, the last Saxon king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor. Mistress Bess Haddon had proposed this cloak as the basis for the Royal Cloaks some years before. Although it was not selected for that project, it was a wonderful inspiration for the Laurel cloak. As with the Pelican Cloak, the project was funded by the Fighter Auction Tourney fund.

The original 11th century mantle was made of silk twill with medallions of the life of Christ and celestial bodies worked in couched gold thread, with some details in coloured silk in stem stitch. In the 15th century the embroidered elements were cut away and remounted on the current Italian silk damask, so the original placement of the motifs is not known.

Laurel cloak
Lochac Laurel Cloak

The design adapts the original 8 sided star medallions to depict the various arts and crafts; the circular emblems to depict laurel wreaths; and the letters as a front edge border – ‘LOCHAC ME FECIT’, which translates as “Lochac made me”.

The cloak is made of green silk brocade, interlined with linen and lined with silk. The laurel wreaths and elements of the star medallions are highlighted with appliqued gold silk. The medallions and border motifs are embroidered using gold twist, laid double, couched down with silk.

The individual motifs, wreaths and edge pieces were prepared as 60 kits, The embroidery was worked by the Worshipful Company of Broderers and members of the Order of the Laurel. The completed pieces were applied to the cloak in a grid pattern, alternating wreaths and symbols.

Tablet woven braid
Brocaded tablet woven band in silk and gold

The cloak will be closed with a pair of silver gilt brooches linked with a tablet woven band. The fine silk and gold brocaded band was woven by Mistress Amalie von Brisache in fine green silk and gold. It is 3cm wide and 63cm long.

Gallery

The galleries shows the completed pieces, and the designs for those which are still underway.

Collar_Leonie
Laurel cloak collar - Mistress Leonie de Grey
Fecit_Hunydd
Laurel cloak border - Mistress Hunydd verch Madyn Duy
Fecit_Leonie
Laurel cloak border - Mistress Leonie de Grey
Gold wreath sewn on a green background
Laurel wreath - Mistress Rowan Perigrynne
Lochac_Miriam
Laurel cloak border - Dame Miriam Galbraith
Lochac_Yolande
Laurel cloak border - Mistress Yolande Kesteven
ME_Leonie
Laurel cloak border - Mistress Leonie de Grey
ME_Zanobia
Laurel cloak border - Lady Zanobia Adimari
Wreath_Danielis
Laurel wreath - Danielis Pyrsokomos
Wreath_Fionnabhair
Laurel wreath - Mistress Danielis Pyrsokomos
Wreath_Ginevra
Laurel wreath - Mistress Ginevra Isabella di Serafino Visconti
Wreath_Katherine
Laurel wreath - Mistress Katherine Alicia of Sarum
Wreath_Keredwin
Laurel wreath - Mistress Keridwen the Mouse
Wreath_Leonor
Laurel wreath - Lady Leonor de Alcocer
Wreath_Marit
Laurel wreath - Mistress Marit the Wanderer
Wreath_Mathilde
Laurel wreath - Mistress Mathilde Adycote
Wreath_Myrun
Laurel wreath - Lady Mýrún Jóhansdóttir
Wreath_Rosamond
Laurel wreath - Lady Rosamond de Montford
Alembic_Cairistiona
Alchemy - Mistress Cairistiona nic Bheathain
Barrel_Marienna
Brewing - Mistress Marienna Jensdatter
Book_Teffania
Research - Mistress Teffania de Tuckerton
Bookpress
Bookbinding - design
Bowsaw_Rose
Woodwork - Lady Rose Pennyngton
Clubs_Branwen
Juggling - Mistress Branwen of Werchesvorde
Cog_Francesca
Engineering - Mistress Francesca Cellini
Cooking_Sabinne
Cooking - Mistress Sabine du Bourbonnais
Costuming_Muirghein
Costuming - Mistress Muirghein ni Grainne
Dance_Rosamond
Dance - Lady Rosamond de Montfort
Embroidery_Rowan
Embroidery - Mistress Rowan Perigrynne
Fencing_Catalina
Fencing - Mistress Catalina de Gata
Gardening_Katherine
Gardening - Mistress Katherine Alicia of Sarum
Glass_Madilyn
Glasswork - Lady Madelaine le Mercer
Harp_Ceara
Music - Mistress Ceara Shionnach
Knitting_Matilde
Knitting - Mistress Mathilde Adycote
Leatherwork_Helena
Leatherwork - Lady Helena Essheton
Lyre
Bards - design
Mask_Blanca
Theatre - Lady Blanca Gutierrez de Avila
Metalwork_Catherine
Metalwork - Lady Catherine of Shirwode
Pagentry_Sabinne
Pagentry - Mistress Sabine du Bourbonnais
Painting_Katherine
Painting - Mistress Katherine Alicia of Sarum
Peel
Bakers - design
Pottery_Genna
Pottery - Mistress Genna inghean Braonáin uí Ámoinn
Ring_Rowan
Jewellery - Mistress Rowan Perigrynne
Scribes
Scribes - design
Spinning_Miriam
Spinning - Dame Miriam Galbraith
Sundial_Hunydd
Clockmaking - Mistress Hunydd verch Madyn Duy
Toys_Keridwen
Toymaking - Mistress Keridwen the Mouse
Weaving_Ceara
Weaving - Mistress Ceara Shionnach