Asa Gormsdottir
Persona(s)
Dame Asa Gormsdottir (she/her) is a 9th century Hedeby Norsewoman who likes to slum as a 1495 CE Venetian lady. Asa is also interested in 16th century Persian dress and Japanese culture of the Muromachi “Warring States” and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. She is (slowly) developing a Japanese samurai fencing persona, Nishio Akame (西尾赤女 “Western Limit” + Red/Bright/Happy).
Whereabouts
Asa currently resides in the Canton Der Welfengau, in the Barony of Ramshaven.
Heraldry
- Device: Per chevron sable and gules, four bezants in chevron and an altar argent enflamed Or
- Augmentation: in chief in fess a feather sustained by a wolf rampant argent.
The flaming altar is for sacrifice. It is a reference to the stone altars in Mary Stewart's Arthurian cycle, one that conceals Macsen's sword (along with the grail and the spear point that pierced Christ's side), and the second, at the Chapel Perilous, where the sword is veiled in unquenchable flame until the true king shall come. The golden bezants (coins) represent Asa's family.
The augmentation of a wolf bearing a feather (or quill) is for scribal services to the Kingdom of Ealdormere.
Current Office(s)
Past Offices
- Kingdom Signet - Kingdom of Ealdormere
SCA History
Asa first encountered the SCA at a University of Toronto demo and joined the Canton of Eoforwic in 1995. She autocratted her first event six months later. After ten years service in Eoforwic, she moved to the Barony of Ramshaven where she resides today.
Asa's journey to the Order of the Laurel was mentored by Baroness Rachael Catherine McLellan, OL; Duchess Tangwystl D'Courci, OL; and Magistra Nika Dmitrieva doch’ Zvezdina, OL, OP.
Interests
Asa is a kingdom scribe who also takes on commission scribal work. Recognized for her dramatic and unique early-period illuminations inspired by Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Migration era jewellery, metalwork and carving, Asa favours Lindisfarne carpet and incipit page layouts, capitals and half-uncial script, but produces works in other styles as well.
Asa is a stealth bard who writes poetry and evocative scroll wordings that others perform. Her published works include non-fiction books, articles and creative writing. She has taught at Pennsic, Known World Heraldic & Scribal Symposium (KWHSS), Practicum, Masque of Courtly Love, Winter War, Trilliums, etc. and has served as a judge/reviewer at Pentathlon and Queen's Prize Tourney for many years.
Asa likes to make hand-sewn clothing in various periods for her family and loved ones. While she is unskilled in fibre arts (“string theory”) and dyeing, she happily cheerleads others as a patron. She is also accidentally learning about pottery.
- Costuming (Fine hand-sewn garments in silk, linen and wool)
- Sewing (Silk Brocades)
- Research (Papers and Competitive Google-Foo)
- Treasure (aka Loot, Spoil, “bits wot someone dug out of the swamp”, etc.)
- Dyeing (chiefly as a patron)
- Enabling (as an Olympic sport)
- Fibre Arts (chiefly as a patron)
- Pottery (chiefly as a patron)
- Fencing (beginner)
- Target Archery (wannabe)
Articles, Classes, Presentations
- Combat Scribing - November 2021
- Hideyoshi's New Clothes - Cloth of Gilt, July 2020
- Scribal Service and Award Scrolls - April 2017
- Why Service Matters - June 2016
- Pimp My (Early-Period) Scroll - Known World Heraldic & Scribal Symposium (KWHSS), 2015
- Lindisfarne Layout - 2015
- So You Wanna Be A Kingdom Scribe - March 2012
- PATTERN RECOGNITION: Evolution of Large-Scale Textile Motifs - October 2011
- Building an Award Scroll - June 2006, updated May 2011
- Research and Effective Documentation - Oct 27 2005, updated June 30, 2010
- An Introduction to Lindisfarne Illumination - July 2008
- Running Small Events: Introduction to Autocratting - June 2006
- Ways to Annoy an Autocrat, or How Not to be Accountable - undated
- Compleat Anachronist #123: Lo Spozalizio del Mare - Spring 2004
- Pentathlon 2003 Winning Entry: supporting research papers
- 1: TRANSLATION AND DISCUSSION OF A LETTER DESCRIBING A 1488 NEAPOLITAN WEDDING BANQUET
- 2: 1495 VENETIAN OVER- AND UNDER-DRESSES, HANDMADE IN SILK
- 3: LATE 15th CENTURY VENETIAN CORK CHOPINES
- 4: ILLUMINATION OF THE DOGE BARBARIGO ABOUT TO BOARD THE BUCINTORO. VENETIAN-PADUAN STYLE AFTER GIROLAMO DA CREMONA, 1470s-1480s
- 5: SELECTION OF DISHES FOR A LATE 15th CENTURY NORTHERN ITALIAN FEAST
Several of the above are available in the Archive of St. Etienne.
Event/Demo Steward
- Dagmar's Holmgang
- Cloth of Gold (twice)
- Scotchtoberfest
- Queen's Picnic/Ramshaven Baronial Investiture
- Mayor's Market Day (twice)
- Mega Practices - Canton Der Welfengau (multiple)
- College Royal - Canton Der Welfengau (multiple)
Awards
- Order of the Laurel - November 22nd, 2014
- Order of the Wain - March 2, 2013
- Order of the Crucible - November 6, 2004
- Award of the Orion - January 12, 2002
- Award of the Maiden's Heart - February 5, 2000
- Award of Arms - April 12, 1997 (Kingdom of the Middle)
- Augmentation of Arms - July 2, 2011 - In fess an ostrich feather sustained by a wolf rampant argent
- Scroll of Honour - April 29, 2017 - Scribe to TRM Siegfried II & Xristina
- Scroll of Honour - August 1, 2013 - Contributions to awards during the reign
- Scroll of Honour - September 19, 2009 - Scribal contributions to TRM Roak IV & Jocea II
- Scroll of Honour - July 1, 2007 - Scribe and illuminator of the Scroll of Honour
- Scroll of Honour - October 23, 2004 - Gifts of art to Northshield for Coronation
- Award of the Guidon d'Or - April 8, 2017 - Barony of Ramshaven
- Award of the Guidon d'Argent - July 7, 2012 - Barony of Ramshaven
- Award of the Golden Bear - Barony of Septentria
- Award of the Bear's Claw - Barony of Septentria
- Pentathlon Champion - Kingdom of Ealdormere, 2003
Other Activities
Asa loves Master Albrecht Stampfer, her kids, her cats, and feeding people à la Hobbit.
Contact Information
Asa is active on Facebook. She prefers Messenger.
