Lapidary

Lapidary

Category Rules: The category is for entries made from gemstones or crystals. Primary sources for lapidary work consist mainly of museum pieces and a few treatises, such as Albert Magnus and Theophilus. For this reason, leniency is suggested if it is evident that a sincere attempt to document the entry has been made. The following are touches which are typical to period stones and should be graded slightly higher in Authenticity:

Polished nicks in stones, these were the result if cutting out a flaw while removing as little material and weight as possible.
Stones which have been polished or faceted following the orignal shape so as to lose as little weight as possible.
Drilled stones.
Crystals, especially low grade emeralds, drilled lengthwise and polished but not substantially shaped.
Cabochons which started out as drilled stones, then were cut in half, leaving a line across the back of the stone where the hole was.

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.

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).

Type and hardness of stone.
Shaping techniques used (cabochon vs. drilling vs. simple facets vs. period facets vs. engraving vs. intaglio and carving).
Polishing techniques used.
Equipment needed.
Extent gone to ensure authenticity of techniques used.

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 2).

Mastery of shaping techniques (for each technique used).
Mastery of polishing techniques.

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: Elli Lutemaker, no date given.

Editors: Bronwyn ferch Gwyn ap Rhys, 1984; Bronwyn ferch Gwyn ap Rhys, 1987; 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.