Presentation

What's Nouvelle Chevalerie ?
new knighthood

          
           Through hand made decorative creations on paper or on chased copper, and several kinds of old calligraphy, this activity is directly inspired by all which is History : not only Middle Ages, but widely until XVIIIth century, not only History or France, but also the one of other countries.

           The INNOVATION is to purpose CUSTOMIZED and MAIL-ORDERED creations, and according to the orders, calligraphy in foreign languages, making of nouvellechevalerie.com a true creative service.

           Born in Dunkirk, north of France, town of Jean Bart, a famous privateer of King Louis XIVth, my favourite subjects are old sailing ships and navy, travel's accounts and old maps.

           Also tales and legends, which I purpose on request, through decorative albums, illustrated with original paintings.

Papers are hand-worked and decorated into old style, all colours with gilded shadows, to offer an alternative to sheepskin parchment, which is more expensive.

Colours or papers'decorations may be customized without effect on prices.


          

HOMEPAGE

Available " Decorative Miscellanies" ( or albums )

 

  • Titles ( in french ) :
  • Cross of Catelan - : XIIIth century, the origin of a famous place in Paris, true story of a young servant
  • Legend of St Agnan - : ingenuous tale for children
  • The devil grocer - : an humorous story situated in Paris, in XIIIth century : a poor grocer who gets many problems with his neighbours
    TALES AND LEGENDS OF PARIS
  • Story of La Hire - : historical record about one of the companions of the heroine Joan of Arc
  • Soul of countess Kathleen - : an irish countess who save her people against evil
  • The White Trout - : an irish princess changed into a trout - Hand-written
  • King of the Black Desert - : the adventure of a prince with a magician
    IRISH TALES
  • Song of Halewyn - : a fantastic and very dark legend from north of France
  • "Tintagel fairy castle" - : extract from "Madness Tristan", Oxford, England, XIIIth century, small poetic folder describing the old Tintagel castle, remaining in Cornwalls. In Old french,
    hand-written, with french or english translation
  • "AFLOAT, IN THE OLDEN TIMES" -: by an old and famous french writer, life of sailors and passengers during the times of sailing ships
  • "Gilles de RAIS" -: historical record about another companion of Joan of Arc, a famous knight. His story inspired "The Blue Beard" legend
  • "Ambroise PARE" -: During the XVIth century, the life of the "father of french modern surgery"
  • "Life of Alexander SELKIRK" -: a scottish sailor, the true "Robinson Crusöe"


TO SEE MORE DECORATIVE MISCELLANIES



  • Above folders are composed from History or from tales and legends of various countries, with original illustrations and printed texts, or texts in calligraphy.
  • To order : use "Contact Page", sending an e-mail with a description of the realization you need.


    "HISTORY TELLS YOU..."


    THE CHEMIST IN THE OLD TIMES, AN ERUDITE GROCER


    "Homepage illustration : a chemist shop in XIVth century

    During XIVth century in Europe, the chemists not only must pass an exam but also have to take an oath. They belong to grocers'corporate body and sell various products like sugar, cinnamon or plants and magic things. They prepare by themselves infusions, very appreciated beauty balms and elixirs.
    Their shops include true medicinal treasures, able to cure any hurt, provided that one accept any price and most of all, be not exposed to vanishing or nausea : indeed, except medicinal plants, many cures are made from animal's products and organs, like frog eyes, stag tears, pigs bladders, slugs, crocodiles and lizards dungs, various insects or brains boars. How many love or youth elixirs came out from these surprising stores !
    Some chemists keep as bedside books the "Dungs Manual", written in 1280 by the monk Albert Froot, or the famous "Antidotarium", from the non-less famous Salerna medical school, in Italy. This manual, written in XIth century by Nicolas Myrepse, included 2657 medical formulas.
    During that dark period, plants are sometimes diverted from its initial virtues to become devil's weapons. Indeed, Joan of Arc will be accused to have "harassed English armies with the magic strength of a "mandragora officinarum" root, hidden under her armour". "Hyoscyamus niger" and "Atropa belladonna" were considered as being used for devilments. "Theriaque" - from old greek "ther" which means wild beast - is a famous elixir made to cure wild animals'bites. It was made from viper's flesh mixed with fifty substances coming from animals, plants and mineral products.
    But the chemists also know to be serious, in accordance with royal settlements which prohibit to sell dangerous drugs and which require from these "grocers" that they know how to read the prescriptions.
    The greatest part of the chemists work is to prepare infallibles cures even for the smallest hurts. The shop was opened on the street and the apprentices crushed the ingredients in a mortar, while others are straining, warming up in a cauldron or are distilling in stills. During that time, the chemist receives the orders and weights the cures. To preserve the products, they used clay jugs, or jars made of wood, ceramic or tin. On shelves, are waiting syringes and small vases with spouts, which will be used to take samples, to inject and to mix the various ingredients.


    - Updated May 18th 2007-

    "History tells you" is an item created by webmaster of "Nouvelle Chevalerie"
    as entertainment for readers and to popularize History