Asa Gormsdottir

Persona

Dame Asa Gormsdottir (She/Her) is a 9th century Hedeby Norsewoman who likes to slum as a 1495 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 (“Western Limit” + Red/Bright/Happy).

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.

Whereabouts

Asa currently resides in the Canton Der Welfengau, in the Barony of Ramshaven.

Heraldry

Per chevron sable and gules, four bezants in chevron and an altar argent enflamed Or, and for 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)

Minister of Arts & Sciences, Canton der Welfengau

Past Offices

Kingdom Signet, Kingdom of Ealdormere

Seneschal, Canton der Welfengau (twice)

Exchequer, Canton der Welfengau (twice)

Seneschal, Canton of Eoforwic (twice)

Exchequer, Canton of Eoforwic (twice)

Minister of Arts & Sciences, Canton of Eoforwic

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

Illumination and Calligraphy

Poetry and research articles

Fine hand-sewn garments in silk, linen and wool

Silk Brocades

Treasure

Fibre Arts, Dyeing, Pottery, chiefly as a patron

Beginner Fencer and wannabe Archer

Articles, Classes, Presentations

Combat Scribing, November 2021

Hideyoshi's New Clothes, Cloth of Gilt, July 2021

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

College Royal, multiple, Canton der Welfengau

Awards

Order of the Laurel, November 22, 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 Albrecht, her kids, her cats, and feeding people a la Hobbit.

Contact Information

Asa is active as Eve Harris on Facebook. She prefers Messenger.

External Links

www.facebook.com/eve.harris.315//

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