Here Be Drolleries – book review

HERE BE DROLLERIES, NANCY SPIES, Arelate Studio, 2007.

A second volume of charted motifs and patterns from Medieval Sources, Here Be Drolleries is a great companion to Spies’ earlier book, Here Be Wyverns (link is to my review of this book).

You may wonder what a drollery is and the Introduction tells you that these a whimsical creatures often found in the margins of medieval manuscripts.

Following the introduction are the charts. The charts are divided into sections based on subject, including birds, drolleries, and odds & ends. There is an extensive section on borders.

One of my favorite aspects of Spies’ books are her commentaries on the charts. Ever chart has a note of its source and the pages are ornamented with relevant quotes from medieval documents.

The designs range from small to large and many can be adapted for other uses. I bought the book and the same day I found a chart to adapt for a background pattern.

There is a color section showing stitched examples. The charts a large and clear and the book is spiral bound to lay flat.

I hope there are more volumes coming.