medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
A somewhat belated contribution to an earlier thread about Lollard Tailors
and "Scissorsmen". (Not called Edward, I hope :-) )
(1) I have just remembered that the official professional journal of the
British tailors is called "The Tailor and Cutter".
From this I conclude that, although associates. the "tailor" and the
"cutter" were - originally at anyrate - separate skills. (Like "carpenter &
joiner")
The transclations of the "Scissorman" would therefore be "cutter" and not
"cutler", the latter being someone who makes knives and spoons - and forks,
that is CUTLERY.
(2) I was reminded of this by the illustration on the front of a publisher's
leaflet which came today: Medieval studies by the Eurospan University Press
Group.
On their front leaf they have a pretty colour reproduction of two women
visiting a tailor. My guess is that the period is late 14th, early 15th
century, but there is no caption, far less any provenance, on the leaflet.
One woman is standing for her fitting while the (male) tailor adjusts the
set of the garment at her shoulder. Another man (the cutter ?) is cutting
cloth at an adjacent table. But there is something odd about the picture. It
is possible the woman is a lady of "easy virtue". Her duenna is slumped on
the bench with a very tipsy wreath on her head fondling a goat with two
horns, one long and curved, the other short and stumpy. The position of the
central woman's hands are also rather improperly suggestive ....
Any comments ? I am considering e-mailing Eurospan to ask them for source
&c.
Brenda M. C.
.
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