The Mazer - photo gallery
Mazers
"Yes, this cup was almost alive, a true work of art crafted no doubt by one who had loved the trees and the island more than any..."
A mazer is kind of drinking cup, traditionally made of maple.
The mazer on the left lives in the British Museum, London. It dates from the 14th century and is from Flanders, modern-day Belgium.
It's believed this mazer may have been a wedding gift.
It's made of maple wood, silver gilt, and enamel, and would have been proudly displayed for all to see!
In my story, the Mazer and its stand are crafted as one. But the shape is much the same.
sea and skies
"From yonder plain I love to see
The clouds, the sky, where, flying free,
The gulls and gannets glide and soar
’Pon evening breeze along the shore."
A Southernwood seagull :)
 A view from the coast by Skeps Wood. |
 The beach near Silva's cabin. |
Sunset at Yewlith.
Fishes and nets
This netting needle can be used to make or mend fishing nets.
 An old net decorating a window above an alley. |
 Gutted fish, ready for frying... |
...and a chunk of Harold's bread to mop up the grease!
bassan's driftwood
This piece of driftwood sits on our balcony table. A nail goes through one side...and comes out on the other!
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It's the inspiration behind Bassan's driftwood in the story.
solid stuff!
A wooden barrel, which I imagine could have been used to hold mead or wine.
 Winifred has a half-barrel in her kitchen for dirty laundry. |
 A very solid, secure chest! It may have held books or other documents. |
 A medieval door... |
 ...and its massive key! |
 Behind the door - a stone staircase. |
 Farther up, a small window from where you can peek out into the street below. |
The door and the chest in the above photos are to be found in the church of St John the Baptist, Cirencester, UK.
the burial gardens
In The Mazer, the burial gardens are surrounded by high wall and hedging. Here's how one of the entrances might look.
And below, small steps and hedges separate one garden from another:
These photos were taken in The Lawns, Swindon, site of an old church and graveyard. There are several yews here. However, only one yew grows in the burial gardens of Southernwood.
the icehouse
There is an amazing icehouse in Kew Gardens, London! It dates from 1763 or a little earlier.
 The icehouse door. |
 Walking along through the tunnel... |
 ...round the corner at the end... |
 ...and here we are, in a dome-shaped room. |
Ice for this house was taken from small ponds nearby.
It was used to cool drinks and keep food fresh in summer.
ladders
Here are two ladders that took my fancy!
 This ladder is attached to the edge of a house near Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria. |
 We found this ladder in a field in the Strandja area of Bulgaria. |