This category includes tools, implements, utensils, instruments and other items of household or common use. This may include, but is not limited to: anvils, augers, baking paddles, barrels, basins, beehives, bellows, bells, blotters, bow saws, brooms, brushes, candlestick holders, casks, churns, cleavers, drills, files, furisons, grindstones, gristmills, hair combs, hammers, hoes, ink wells, knitting needles, lanterns, locks, mallets, mirrors, mortars & pestles, pack racks (pack saddles), pails/buckets, pans, picks, pitchforks, pliers, pot-cranes, quill pens, rope, rushlight holders, saws, scrapers, scythes, sewing needles, shavers, shears, shovels, sickles, sieves, sifters, skivers, sledges, tankards, tarboxes, thimbles, threshing flails, tongs, tubs, vats, weathervanes, weaving combs, weaving shuttles, wheelbarrows and yokes. NOTE: Most items that fall into this category are usually composed of more than one material or do not fit more appropriately into another category because of their uniqueness (such as working in bone, tusk, etc). Judges may wish to consult additional criteria for references to specific materials, if appropriate, such as Woodwork, Metalwork, etc.
- Identification/Description of the entry.
- Approximate date and place/nationality in history that the entry is modeled upon.
- Lists use(s) of the entry.
- Cites at least one reference, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive relating to either A) period use of such item OR B) period method of constructing such item OR C) both A & B.
- Entry is appropriate to time/place stated in documentation.
- Materials used are period OR give period effect.
- Methods/Procedures used are period OR give period effect.
- Style, pattern, design and finished product are consistent with one another and give period effect.
- Difficulty and variety of materials used.
- Difficulty and variety of tools used.
- Difficulty and variety of construction techniques used.
- Difficulty and variety of decorative techniques used.
- Finishing techniques used.
- Interaction/coordination of various parts.
- Number and variety of design elements.
- Amount of time involved including research and material preparation.
- Scope of endeavor (number of pieces/parts, size of work relative to amount of detail, etc.).
- Intricacy of creating an object in the size/scale utilized in the entry. (Remember that all sizes are difficult because in small scale it is difficult to get details and in large scale, any minor flaw shows noticeably.)
- Ability of entry to serve intended function.
- Ability of entry to hold up in use.
- Attention to details, neatness and finishing touches.
- Appropriate application of design(s).
- Appropriate choice of materials
- Project is NOT logical to context of period.
- Project fits the context of period, but an adequate understanding of the item being created is missing OR was created from a kit with no changes.
- Project is a logical combination of a few copied elements OR was created from a kit, but has personal variations to ornamentation.
- Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context, in design or execution OR its origin was a kit, but has been greatly altered both in pattern and in ornamentation.
- Project is mostly original application of period or SCA Known World designs OR is an exact reproduction of a period item.
- Project is an original application of period or SCA Known World designs.
NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Novice Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points) Must have at least a 1 page, 2-3 pages preferable. More is acceptable. Give one point for each of the following that is present:
- Identification/Description of the entry plus the approximate date and place/nationality in history that the entry is modeled upon.
- Statement or listing of materials used in entry's construction and use(s) of the entry.
- Describes method(s) used to create entry (may include reasons for why a certain process or material was used).
- Cites at least two references, either illustrative (pictures) or descriptive relating to either A) period use of such item OR B) period method of constructing such item OR C) both A & B.
- Entry is appropriate to time/place stated in documentation.
- Materials used are period OR give period effect.
- Methods/Procedures used are period OR give period effect.
- Style, pattern, design and finished product are consistent with one another and give period effect.
- Difficulty and variety of materials used.
- Difficulty and variety of tools used.
- Difficulty and variety of construction techniques used.
- Difficulty and variety of decorative techniques used.
- Finishing techniques used.
- Interaction/coordination of various parts.
- Number and variety of design elements.
- Amount of time involved including research and material preparation.
- Scope of endeavor (number of pieces/parts, size of work relative to amount of detail, etc.).
- Intricacy of creating an object in the size/scale utilized in the entry. (Remember that all sizes are difficult because in small scale it is difficult to get details and in large scale, any minor flaw shows noticeably.)
- Ability of entry to serve intended function.
- Ability of entry to hold up in use.
- Attention to details, neatness and finishing touches.
- Appropriate application of design(s).
- Appropriate choice of materials.
- 1:Project is a logical combination of a few copied elements OR was created from a kit, but has personal variations to ornamentation.
- 2:Project has evidence of original work that is logical to period context, in design or execution OR its origin was a kit, but has been greatly altered both in pattern and in ornamentation.
- 3:Project is mostly original application of period or SCA Known World designs OR is an exact reproduction of a period item.
- 4:Project is an original application of period or SCA Known World designs.
NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, and other such items not previously addressed. Keep in mind that this entry is at Intermediate Level, regardless of the skill of the entrant.
DOCUMENTATION (0-4 points) Must have at least 3 pages of discussion (NOT including visuals and bibliography). More is acceptable. Give score based on the following:
- 0:No documentation or very inaccurate documentation.
- 1:Minimum information (time, place of work to be judged).
- 2:Same as #1 with visual reference (photocopies, pictures, postcards, etc.) to period examples. but little or no discussion of period practice OR same as #1 plus discussion of period practice, but no visual references.
- 3:#1 plus visual references and discussion of period practice, including rationale for some elements of entry (design, materials, techniques, etc.).
- 4:#3 but very complete examples and discussion, including rationale for all elements of entry and discussion of their appropriateness to each other, to period and to intended use. Explains original research or experiment. Explains any deviations or variations from period norm.
- 0:Blatantly modern in some respect: e.g. intended use, materials, motifs, etc.
- 1:Generally period, with some obviously modern elements present (e.g. commercial finish, wood screws) OR obvious mixture of elements from different cultures or periods.
- 2:Overall period style and execution, with minor inconsistencies.
- 3:Period piece, no inconsistencies; materials and finishes are period or reasonable equivalents; materials and design appropriate to intended use of item.
- 4:Special effort to achieve a completely period product by use of period design, materials, tools, and techniques (e.g. entrant cut wood off tree, seasoned it, made tools, pegs and finishes).
- Scope of endeavor (number of pieces/parts, size of work relative to amount of detail, etc.).
- Interaction/coordination of various parts.
- Difficulty and variety of materials and tools used.
- Difficulty and variety of construction techniques used.
- Difficulty and variety of decorative techniques used.
- Finishing techniques used.
- Function/durability: Does it do what it should? Will it hold up in use? Are joints/connections tight? Do matched pieces match?
- Mastery of period style and practice.
- Choice and handling of materials.
- Appropriateness to use.
- Neatness.
- Choice and handling of supplemental materials: finishes, glues, fasteners, etc.
- Form/design: aesthetics, pattern development, decorative motifs, etc.
- 0:Piece isn't logical in context of period.
- 1:Logical combination of a few copied elements.
- 2:Evidence of original work logical to period context in design or execution.
- 3:Creative interpolation in combination of elements; much innovation logical to period; project is mostly original application of period or SCA Known World designs OR is an exact reproduction of a period item.
- 4:Original, innovative combination of period materials, techniques and designs as might have been done by a creative period artist; project is an original application of period or SCA Known World designs. Special touches such as personalization to an event, individual or idea should be taken into consideration.
NOTE: This category is subjective; however, the judge should take into account prior category scores, aesthetic appeal, presentation, intuitive response, and other such items not previously addressed.