Textile Arts and Tolkien

[Formendacil]

A thought came to me that in real life, historical artefacts of cloth tend to have more significance than those of weaponry. Does anyone remember George Washington's sabre, or William the Conqueror's sword? No, it is Betsy Ross (that is name, right Americans?)'s original American flag, or the Bayeux Tapestry.

In much the same way, Arwen's banner might have had the same lasting place in the memories of the Gondorian people as Anduril did. Certainly, when Aragorn came up the Anduin to the Pelennor, it was not the sword of Elendil that people recognised as symboling the return of the king, or even the Elendilmir of Valandil, but rather the banner of the king.

I kind of like to think of Arwen as, among other things, the Betsy Ross of middle-earth.

[davem]

On the July page of the 1978 Silmarillion Calendar there are three Numenorean objects. The title is 'Numenorean tile & textiles'. One of the 'textiles' is reproduced in Artist & Illustrator, & described as a 'Numenorean Carpet'.

I suppose Vaire

Vairë the Weaver..., who weaves all things that have ever been in Time into her storied webs, and the halls of Mandos that ever widen as the ages pass are clothed with them."

may have had her source in the Norns:

the Norse Fates. Like the Fates of Greek religion and mythology,

. Belief in the Norns was of great importance in Germanic religion and life. It was said that no one, not even the gods, could escape their fate. The Norns were usually three in number—Urth or Wyrd (the past), Verthandi (the present), and Skuld (the future). The three weird sisters of destiny in Shakespeare's Macbeth are probably Scottish equivalents of the Norns.

What the connection between weaving & fate in Me is, exactly, is something I'm not sure has been explored, but it does seem that the creations of various weavers either depicts or gives a helping hand to 'fate'. (see: http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...bcat-ARTS.html But...

In 'Laws & Customs' its stated that 'The nissi, Elven women

are more often skilled in the tending of fields & gardens, in playing upon instruments of music , & in the spinning, weaving, fashioning & adornment of all threads & cloths;

While the neri, Elven males, are

more skilled as smiths & wrights, as carvers of wood & stone, & as jewellers. It is they for the most part who compose musics & make the instruments, or devise new ones.

This seems very similar to the situation with Ents & Entwives

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Thanks for those thoughts so far! Arwen as Betsy Ross makes me smile.

I appreciate the HoME quotes, davem, since I haven't yet read that volume. That does shed some light on the subject of gender specialties. I agree, looking into the connection between fate and weaving could be very interesting!

I've begun reading Hammond and Scull's J.R.R. Tolkien, Artist and Illustrator and am finding some interesting thoughts on his artistic background there. They agree that his art works show evidence of influence by the Arts and Crafts movement and that his writing shows his agreement with the ideas as well.

It seems clear, too, that he agreed with the underlying philosophy of Morris and his followers, which looked back to a much earlier time: that the 'lesser' arts of handicraft embodied truth and beauty no less than the 'fine' arts of painting and sculpture. One looks for the latter almost in vain in Tolkien's writings (Leaf by Niggle excepted), but finds a wealth of references to crafts.

The woven tapestries in the Golden Hall are one of the examples they cite.

I won't hijack this thread for a closer look at Tolkien's art work, which deserves one specifically devoted to that topic, but I like finding the connections that show us how important the crafts, including textile arts, were considered by him.

[Bêthberry]

I was reading about the Venice Biennale this year and the installation artist Kim Sooja, who also goes by the name kimsooja. She works with cloth and fabric as witness to human life and death. I'm mulling over some possible ideas as they relate to Tokien's use of coverings, clothes and banners but I thought I would share a review of her work. Who knows--something might stimulate others as well.

Being and Sewing

[Angry Hill Troll]

Good topic, Estelyn!

Another example of needlework, is Míriel, the mother of Fëanor:

...her hands were more skilled to make things fine and delicate than any other hands even among the Noldor. By her the craft of needles was devised; and if but one fragment of the broderies of Míriel were seen in Middle-earth it would be held dearer than a king’s realm; for the richness of her devices and the fire of their colours were as manifold and as bright as the wealth of leaf and flower and wing in the fields of Yavanna.

The quote above is from HoME X; a shorter and less descriptive version appears in the published Silmarillion. I particularly like the line that one fragment of tapestry would be worth more than a kingdom (!) -- quite a stunning comparison.

It seems (in my opinion) that Fëanor inherited his skill and creativity from his mother, for Finwë is not described as having the level of creative genius as Míriel or Fëanor, nor are any of the children of Finwë and Indis.

One version of the story of Finwë and Míriel, has Míriel reembodied after Finwë’s death, not to return to live among the Noldor, but to work with Vairë, “...to record in web and broidery all the histories of the Kin of Finwë and the deeds of the Noldor.”

Interestingly, Míriel resembled her son in other ways, too.

Then Vairë said to Mandos: ‘The spirit of Míriel hath dwelt with me, and I know it. It is small, but it is strong and obdurate: one of those who having said this I will do make their words a law irrevocable unto themselves.

This sounds like a certain Oath made by someone we know!