Tapestries
The Miniature Tapestries in this series are mostly based on imagery from illuminated manuscripts of the early medieval period. You can see more of these at www.sacred-threads.com They are stitched in silk (except for one, where I used linen and silk), metallic threads, and embellished with faceted gemstones, freshwater pearls, and antique glass beads. There are
The Virgin, in Glory
People often say “Oh, what PATIENCE this must take!” For me it requires no patience at all. This work is deeply meditative, contemplative, and gives me long hours of peace and serenity.
People also ask how long it takes to complete a tapestry. The answer is between 350 and 500 hours for each one. But first, I pore through art books featuring illuminated manuscripts until I find an image I want to spend 500 hours with. Then I transfer it to canvas, and begin to adapt the color palette and imagery to fit my image of how it should turn out. When I am aware of color symbolism or specific iconic images (Mary Magdelene’s colors are green and orange, for example, while th Virgin Mary is blue and red), I don’t change those. Look at the image of the Virgin in Glory. Notice her green and orange clothing? I believe this was intended to be an image of Mary Magdelene. Another Magdelene image that was actually identified as Jesus with Mary Magdelene, shows a green-and-orange clothed woman kneeling, with her hands on an giant-asparagus-looking plant. Jesus is also holding the plant. This giant-asparagus image shows up frequently in images referring to a geneological lineage. So this particular tapestry shows a VERY ancient (900 BCE, if memory serves, but I’ll look it up and confirm) image suggesting that Mary and Jesus shared progeny. DaVinci Code–here we come!
I became enthralled with this period when reading Margaret Frazers’ fabulous series of mystery novels set at the end of the 11th century (http://www.margaretfrazer.com/books/frevisse.html) . Certainly many other authors have set mysteries in this period. Although I enjoy many of them, my typical reaction is the author has 20th or 21st century characters dressed up in medieval costumes. They think like contemporary westerners. The books are anachronistic. But Frazer, whose main character is a nun in a tiny convent in 11th Century England, has the feel of the times.
Sister Frevisse, the main character in her series, was often asked to find out what happened when a theft, or dead body, or some other mayhem, was discovered. In otherwords, she is the “detective” of the series, but medieval English had no exact word for our idea of “detective.” So she is just a sister who finds things out. Furthermore, our Frevisse must fit her inquiries into her duties at the convent, and must break to be back in chapel each time the sisters “pray the hours”–eight times a day. Her logic is impeccable, but isn’t a forensic logic as we know it. Her logic based on knowledge of the way the social fabric works. When the chapel bells ring just as she finally tracks down a person she wants to question, she can become frustrated, but her religion teaches her that the sacred is the true and real, and the mundane is the illusion, and that her duty is to the sacred. This theme of being torn between the spiritual and the mundane is a rich one for our times, and was something I could relate to.
The life of this tiny convent was so filled with the mundane and the sacred, and became so believably real to me, that I was almost transported in time. I think it’s likely that I spent at least one life in a medieval convent happily stitching altar cloths and bishops’ robes. I started these tapestries in February 2005. Some time later I looked at the receipt for the first silk I purchased, and then looked up the astrology for that day. On that one day out of thousands of years, the planet representing Religion, made a station (its apparent movement in the sky came to a standstill) exactly on the point in my chart representing past lives, in the part of the chart representing privacy (the convent). Rather like an arrow pointing to my medieval past!
The images in these pages show most of the work I have completed over the last 4 years (and a few not quite complete).
Below are thumbnail images of the miniature tapestries. If you’d like to see a larger image, simply click on the picture. Soon I will have detailed descriptions for most of them. There are also several other tapestries that I have not yet scanned or photographed.
The Virgin, in Glory
Virgin in Glory
Silk and metallic thread; approx. 3 carats garnet, 3 carats peridot, 1.5 carats white topaz, 1.5 carats citrine, 2.5 carats blue topaz, all prong-set in sterling silver; 33 freshwater pearls on 22 pt canvas
2006
Adapted from image in Winchester Psalter
England, circa 1150
Original: 32 x 22.5 cm
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Adam and Eve
Silk and metallic thread; approx 2
carats garnet and1 carat spessartite,
all prong-set, gold-filled findings
and glass beads on 22 pt canvas.
2007
Adapted from the Albani Psalter
St. Albans, England, circa 1150
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The Annunciation
2005
Adapted from an image in one of 8 detached leaves. Cotton MS Caligula A. vii, f.3
British Library collection. Flanders or north-western france, end of 12th
Original 230 x 145 mm.
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The Annunciation (Glajor Gospels)
Silk and metallic thread; approx. 1 carat peridot, .40 carat aquamarine, .40 carat garnet, all prong-set in sterling silver; 4 freshwater black pearls, 14 freshwater pearls, 3 coral beads, 4 14K gold beads; antique and modern glass beads on 22 pt canvas
2006
Adapted from Glajor Gospel, p 305 Second Painter and T’oros Taronec’i
Armenia, Glajor Monastery, 1300-1307
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God: The Creator
Silk and metallic thread; approx. .5 peridot, .35 carat rubies, all prong-set in sterling silver; 4 freshwater black pearls on 22 pt canvas
2007
Adapted from Bible moralisee, circa 1220 – 1230
Champagne or Paris, France
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Mecca
Mecca
Silk and metallic thread; approx. 1.5 carat blue topaz, .7 carat citrine, both prong-set in sterling silver on 22 pt canvas
2006
Adapted from the Persian Prayer Book
Early 1700’s
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The Nativity
The Nativity
Silk and metallic thread; approx. .70 carat amethyst, prong-set in sterling silver; 4 freshwater pearls; coral beads, silver findings on 22 pt canvas
2005
Adapted from image in Abt. Rudolf Psalter, Ms 22280 f. 9b
Diocese of Contance, Switzerland, circa 1300
Origional 220 x 160 mm
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Six Days of Creation (sold)
Six Days of Creation
and Redemption
Silk and metallic thread; approx. .65 carat iolite and one carat aquamarine, prong set in sterling silver on 22 pt canvas
2007
Adapted from Liber Scivias
Hildegard of Bingen, circa 1140 CE
Eibengen, Rhineland
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Flight to Egypt (sold)
Flight Into Egypt
Silk and metallic thread; approx. .50 carat blue zircon, 1 carat garnet, both prong-set in sterling silver; 19 freshwater pearls, glass beads on 22 pt canvas
2005
Adapted from Miniatures of the Life of Christ, ms 44, folio 3
Limoges (?) France, circa 1200
Original 340 x 222 mm
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Gregory of Nazanzias (sold)
Gregory of Nazianzos
Silk and metallic thread; approx .50 carat garnet, .25 carat peridot , both prong-set in sterling silver; 40 freshwater pearls, glass beads on 22 pt canvas.
2006
Adapted from Liturgical Homilies of Gregory of Nazianzos, f 4v
Byzantine (Constantinople) circa 1150.
Ms brought to Mt. Sinai from Crete by the monk Germanos in 1550.
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King David with Harp (sold)
King David as a Musician
Linen, silk and metallic thread; 1 carat blue sapphire prong set in sterling silver, 16 cultured freshwater pearls, glass beads on 22 pt canvas.
2005
Adapted from illuminated manuscript in Westminster Psalter
Royal ms 2A.xxiii, ff.14b, British Library collection
England, possibly St. Albans or Winchester, circa 1200 CE
Original 230 x 160 mm.
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Hildegard's Awakening
Hildegard’s Awakening
Silk and metallic thread; coral and mother-of-pearl beads, cabochon opal, glass beads on 22 pt canvas
2007
Adapted from Hildegard of Bingen
Liber Scivias, 1140 CE
Eibingen, Rhineland
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The Magdalene (sold)
Jerome Presents Bible to Mary
Release from Despair
Angels Visit Abraham (unfinished)
Presentation of Jesus to Temple (unfinished)
Madonna and Child (unfinished)
Christ and St. Michael (unfinished)
"It is only when a traveler has reached his goal that he is justified in discarding his maps. During the journey, he takes advantage of any convenient short cut.”
--Sri Yukteswar
Anne Beversdorf is a personal astrologer who uses both western astrology and jyotisha, the astrology of India. Anne specializes in crisis situations and existential issues. For more information about private consultations see Sessions and Rates or email Anne directly at anne@stariel.com.
“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there is the risk you cannot afford NOT to take.”
--Peter Drucker