Philippa Dyvill

Awarded at GNEW 2025

Scroll text

It should be known to all that Maud Attewode possesses a great many skills. For instance, she can bake a wonderful pie. But not in the oven, oh no, Maud bakes her pies over the campfire. Few people would even attempt such a thing, but Maud? She does not think it is hard. The campfire itself she will start with her flint and steel. Most would find it a challenge insurmountable, but Maud? She does not think it is hard. Most would not weave their cloth, spin their thread, and sew their clothes. But Maud? She does not think it is hard. So when we, Ryouko’jin Saisei and Maharani Indrakshi, considered her induction into the Order of the Silver Brooch? Of course we said yes. It was not hard. Done at Great Northeastern War, anno societatis 60.

This scroll was exciting for me– I’m very interested in late-period works! The process began, as usual, with searching for exemplar works to base my scroll on. (I am, once again, begging someone to fix the British Library online archives!)

I finally fell upon the Epistle Lectionary of Thomas Wolsey, hosted at the Bodleian Library. Described as 16th century and Flemish style, it would do for a Tudor English persona. I was particularly taken with the bright colors, florals, and gold embellishments. Plus, the blue lion was too good to pass up (not a half-bad Sparky, after all!)

The process was surprisingly smooth during calligraphy and illumination. Palladium leaf for the silver brooch was okay, but I’m still not happy with the finish. Miniatum is working okay for me (but might not have dried for long enough this time, since I was very time constrained I went in too early!). I need to work up a bole recipe that I can burnish. That smooth shiny just can’t be beat!

For the painting, a few layers smoothed out the background nicely, and then it was a matter of putting in the plants and pearls. It felt really natural, and I had a great time with it! It is closer to some of the more modern painting techniques I’ve used before in mundane works.

This scroll’s snail wasn’t hidden at all! The extant work had two birds eating a slug, so it was a natural place for my little friend. Overall I’m pleased with the results, though there are a few places I would have liked to tighten up a bit. The calligraphy isn’t spaced as well as I’d like (this is an ongoing learning process). And, of course, I’m waiting for Maud’s arms to be approved. Since I know her personally, it’ll be easy to arrange a time to hand off the scroll to add them in!