Illumination

Illumination

Category Rules: The category includes decoration of fine handwriting done with pen on paper or other writing ground such as the decoration of text, page or initial letters with ornamnetal designs, miniatures, or lettering. Simulated writing, such as embroidery, etching or inlaying on swords or chain mail rings, should be dealt with under the appropriate category.

Documentation (0 to 4 points):

	0:		No documentation provided with entry.
	1:		Minimal information consisting of time, place and style.
	2:		As in #1, plus use of general sources; emphasis on tertiary sources with perhaps one second source (ex: use of encyclopedia articles with a possible additional use of a book or article that refers to a period source.).
	3:		As in #2, plus a developed discussion making use of critical references; sources are largely secondary (ex: sources refer to period references; documentation discusses, compares, and contrasts the source's views).
	4:		As in #3, plus explanation of original research/experiment and relation of source material to it. Primary sources, if available, are emphasized (ex: sources used are from the appropriate period for the entry, such as period manuscripts, paintings or artifacts).

Authenticity (0 to 4 points):

	0:	Entry is completely modern with no relationship to period elements or practices.
	1:	Use of modern materials and methods to produce a work that would not be accepted in period but either bears some relationship to an authentic work or which might be useful within SCA Culture.
	2:	Use of both modern materials and methods to produce a work that looks or feels authentic to the time period it purports to be.
	3:	Use of either modern materials or methods to produce a work that looks or feels authentic.
	4:	Use of totally authentic materials and methods (ex: paints made from pigments by hand, but not necessarily hand ground, leaf or shell metallics applied using period methods, vellum or period style paper, etc.).

Scope (0 to 6 points): Rank the ambition, not the success, of the entry on a scale of 0 to 6 for each of the following elements and average for the total Scope score (Total of element scores divided by 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13).

Scale of undertaking (simple piece with minimal of detail and few and/or easy techniques).
Number of elements used.
Design.
Techniques required.
Extent gone to ensure authenticity of techniques used.

If applicable:

Miniature or carpet.
Abstract form.
Humand and/or animal forms.
Interlace.
Historiation, diapering, stamping.
Borders and versets.
Application of mettalics.
Drolleries.

Skill (0 to 6 points): How well is the entry made? Rank the success of the entry on a scale of 0 to 6 points for each of the following elements and average for the total Skill score (Total of element scores divided by 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9).

General mastery of style and technique, including use of color and execution of detail.
Control of media (for each medium attempted), precision of penned lines, neatness of brush strokes, etc.
Layout (neatness and aesthetics) including balance of text, illumination and white space.
General proportioning.

If applicable:

Miniature or carpet.
Abstract form.
Human and/or animal form.
Interlace.
Historiation, diapering, stamping.
Borders and versets.
Architectural form.
Application of metallics.
Folliated design.

Creativity (0 to 4 points):

0: Standard style with no innovations.

1: Logical combination of elements with some innovation or embellishment or techniques, all logical to period context.

2: Logical combination of elements with more innovation or embellishment or techniques, all logical to period context.

3: Same as #2, plus much individual intrepretation and interpolation logical to period.

4: Same as #3, plus each element is logically innovative to itself. Elements work together in a cohesive fashion.

Judge's Observations (0 to 6 points): Rank the entry as a whole. How well do all the separately judged parts fit together? The entry's overall effect is judged in this section. This is the only section of the Criteria where the judge may allow her/his personality, private opinions and personal preferences to influence scoring.

Contributors: Lyra d'Orleans, Ilsa von Schonau, Daniel Eyesham of Tweed, Aelith Tourblanc & members of the Calontir Scribes Guild, 1982; Bianca Rosamund & Ranthalfr Asparlundr, 1987; Mairin of the East Isles, 1990.

Editors: Myrra de Blackwood, 1984; Myrra de Blackwood & Bronwyn ferch Gwyn ap Rhys, 1987; Caroline de Mercier & Sonya of Prague, 1990; Thorhalla Carlsdottir af Bröberg, 1997.

The Middle Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire Judging Criteria, 1998 Edition.
Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by the Middle Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
Individual criteria in this volume may be photocopied and
disseminated for use within the Middle Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire.

	0:	Standard style with no innovations.
	1:	Logical combination of elements with some innovation or embellishment or techniques, all logical to period context.
	2:	Logical combination of elements with more innovation or embellishment or techniques, all logical to period context.
	3:	Same as #2, plus much individual intrepretation and interpolation logical to period.
	4:	Same as #3, plus each element is logically innovative to itself. Elements work together in a cohesive fashion.