Pearsons Renaissance Shoppe Blog

Steampunk style is everywhere – themed parties, books, graphic novels, films, even video games are getting in on this growing subculture. This intriguing blend of science fiction, historical décor, and the steam-powered ingenuity of the Victorian era lends itself easily to the visual mediums of film and television. We’ve previously covered some movies that feature strong steampunk elements. Let’s take a look at some great steampunk TV shows!

• The Wild Wild West (1965) – The precursor to the 1999 feature film, this TV series combined the style of westerns with the popular spy genre to great effect. The characters’ use of Jules Verne-esque technology and fantasy elements land it dead center in the steampunk universe.
• Voyagers! (1982) – This fantasy show not only featured steampunk elements but also featured elements from across all time periods. As Phineas Bogg and a young boy named Jeffery Jones travel through time with the help of a mysterious device called the Omni, they teach the viewers about various moments in history.
• The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993) – Probably the most beloved of all steampunk shows, this short-lived yet critically adored show featured cult icon Bruce Campbell a lawyer who is hired to track down outlaw John Bly and his gang. While this may sound like a typical Western, it is anything but. Featuring anachronistic technology in a Victorian era American West, this show is a perfect blend of humor, action, and steampunk style.

The medieval period is growing in popularity among history buffs and fantasy fans alike. Medieval clothing can be seen being incorporated into today’s fashion, television shows and movies are more popular than ever, and museum exhibits displaying the rich history of the medieval period are always well-attended. It seems like people can simply not get enough of medieval times. But if you ask fans where the word “medieval” comes from, many of them probably won’t know. Curious about the origin of the word? Here’s a short history of where this mysterious word comes from.

Like many words, medieval has its origins in Latin, coming from the term medium aevum, meaning “middle age.” The time period we now know as the medieval period was only first known as such in the 19^th century. During that time, history scholars thought of the medieval period as being the time between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.

There has been debate over when exactly the medieval era happened. Depending on which historian you talk to, the medieval era could have taken place anywhere between the 5^th century and the 15^th century, which would place it somewhere at the end of the Ancient period and the beginning of the Early Modern Age.

Nowadays, HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones is the toast of the medieval enthusiast world. Featuring great pieces of authentic medieval jewelry and fashion and realistic battles, Game of Thrones is one of the most popular shows on television now. It isn’t, however, the first series to showcase the lush world of the medieval period. Here’s a look back at some medieval shows from TV’s past.

• ThunderCats (1985) – Sure, this one is a little out of left field, but its combination of science fiction and alternate-history medieval time period has made this cartoon a favorite among medieval fans, many of whom were first exposed to the medieval era through this show.
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) – This wildly popular show featured Kevin Sorbo as a swashbuckling Hercules. This show also featured Bruce Campbell, already a favorite in the medieval fan community for his role in the film, Army of Darkness. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys led to the equally successful spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess.
• The Tudors (2007) – One of the only medieval-set shows without a magical or fantasy component, this show chronicled the reign of King Henry VIII of England. After lasting only four seasons, this show proved to be extremely popular, spawning new interest in historical fiction.
• Gargoyles (1994) – Another cartoon, this one is particularly notable due to its many Shakespearean themes, complex characters, and Scottish mythology. There aren’t many kids’ shows that can boast that!

What are some of your favorite medieval TV shows? We’d love to hear about them. Let us know in the comment section!

Ever since the steampunk trend began picking up steam (I know, I’m sorry…), people have been incorporating the fun style into many aspects of daily life. One popular way to have a good time with steampunk is to throw a steampunk-inspired party. Have your guests don their best steampunk costumes, decorate your space with old-fashioned gears, clocks, and other imagery, and mix some steampunk cocktails. Steampunk cocktails?! Yep, some very clever people have put together some delicious steampunk-style cocktails. Here are some easy recipes:

·       Mr. Jacobson’s Emerson

2 oz. Hayman’s Old Tom Gin (do not substitute regular London dry gin; it’s not sweet enough)
1 oz. sweet vermouth
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. maraschino liqueur (it’s the raffia-covered bottle at the back of the bar)
Turbinado sugar
Maraschino cherry

Wet the rim of a cocktail (aka “martini”) glass and dip the moistened rim in the Turbinado sugar. Set glass aside, preferably in freezer to chill.

Pour the gin, vermouth, lime juice, and maraschino liqueur into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into rimmed, chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry and serve. Repeat as needed.

·       The Pauline Charteris Hindenburg Cocktail

3 oz kirschwasser
A tad less than 1/2 oz dry vermouth
A splash of Grenadine
Lemon peel*
(*A peel… just the oily skin… not a “twist” with the bitter white pith.)

Shake with ice, enough to make cold, but not enough to dilute too badly.

·       Tinkerton’s Steam Cloud

1oz Brandy
2oz half and half
2 t sugar
1/4 t Vanilla extract

Combine ingredients in shaker and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add Ice and shake vigorously (this makes it thick and foamy like a shake) and strain into glass. Add a light sprinkle of cinnamon on top and enjoy.

For more ideas, check out the book Steamdrunks: 101 Steampunk Cocktails and Mixed Drinks and throw yourself a great steampunk costumes party!

At PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com, we try to keep our fans and customers up to date on all things Renaissance wear. Every so often, a truly great news story comes along about the clothes or time period of the Renaissance. Here are some of our favorite recent stories!

• A Renaissance-era prayer book was recently sold for a cool $13.4 million at Christie’s London. This prayer book, commissioned around 1505 by a member of the imperial court of the Netherlands, was acquired by the Rothschild family collection in the 19^th century. Beautifully illustrated, it is considered one of the highest achievements of Flemish Renaissance painting. http://bit.ly/1ddSYLa
• A Renaissance Faire reality show? It seems it is coming soon. According to nerdapproved.com, BBC America is currently looking for Ren Faire enthusiasts to participate in a show described as, “Survivor meets 1890 House, with a touch of Game of Thrones tossed in.” Well, hopefully, people won’t be experiencing a Red Wedding of their own. http://bit.ly/1a7l5Rk
• This Medieval Joker armor costume made quite a splash online recently. Both incredibly cool and unspeakably terrifying, this costume, inspired by the famous Batman villain, will surely give anyone at a Ren Faire nightmares. http://bit.ly/1aJDmSI
• As scientists try to figure how to successfully traverse the surface of Mars, one scientist has designed a space suit, inspired by medieval armor. “Mars is totally unforgiving and we must never forget that,” says Dr. Gernot Groomer. Understatement of the year? http://cnn.it/1fhbJQo

Have you heard or read any stories about Renaissance wear? Let us know in the comments!

So, you’re into steampunk now. You know the background, you’ve read some H.G. Wells, and you’ve made some pretty cool steampunk gadgets. Now, all you need to do is work on your steampunk fashion. There are a number of websites out there to help you learn all about creating the perfect steampunk outfit, but sometimes seeing the outfits in action help you more and even inspire you to invent your own styles. Here’s a short list of great movies that inject fantastical steampunk elements and fashion into their stories. Take a look!

• Sherlock Holmes (2009) – You may be familiar with the famous Detective Holmes and his partner Watson, but you’ve never seen a steampunk mystery adventure quite like this.
• The Prestige (2006) – This thrilling tale of two dueling magicians infuses steampunk elements into its mysterious and twisty plot.
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) – In a textbook example of steampunk aesthetic, this adventure film features an alternate Victorian world where famous science fiction and adventure characters band together.
• Wild Wild West (1999) – Will Smith and Kevin Kline team up in this alternate 19^th-century comedy western.
• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) – An early example of the steampunk movement showing up in film, this fantastic tale of an 18^th century aristocrat features alternate histories, interesting mechanical inventions, early steampunk fashion, and great performances from Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, and Jonathan Pryce.

If you’re like us, then you love the steampunk movement. Steampunk has its roots in books by authors like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, but it grew as a popular subgenre during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Combining elements of the literary version of The Old West with Victorian-era fashion, steampunk melds history with science fiction to create new and unique worlds. Enthusiasts often wear steampunk outfits and enjoy all sorts of steampunk-related books, graphic novels, and TV shows. If you’re new to the steampunk movement, here are some resources to get you started!

• http://www.steampunk.com/ – This is a great resource for all things steampunk. Fashioned like a blog, this site provides you with news, events, a primer on steampunk, and even a bookstore to help you stay up to date on all things steampunk!
• http://steampunkworkshop.com – Another blog site with a unique twist. This not only contains news updates but also how-to instructions for D.I.Y. steampunk projects.
• http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/ – This site is great! Featuring stories, interviews, and historical and scientific articles, Steampunk Magazine is definitely one of the best publications on the internet today for all your steampunk needs!

As the movement grows, so too will the resources online. Be sure to visit PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com for more information on steampunk and to buy some great steampunk outfits!

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just over a month away, but I’ve checked my calendar more than once and everything seems to be right! It’s going to be a shorter shopping season this year than last, with less than a month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With that in mind I’ve started my own shopping a bit early this year, both online and in stores. And I have to admit – it feels pretty great. As much as I love a large crowd at a Renaissance Faire or concert, they just don’t have the same appeal at the mall!

If your shopping list includes a fan of the Renaissance or Medieval times, consider adding some authentically-inspired pieces of jewelry to their stocking. Whether it be something they can wear every day or as part of a larger costume, they’re sure to appreciate your attention to their style. Here are a few pretty and unique options to consider – all sized just right for Christmas stocking stuffing…

Archeress Earrings – One of the newest additions to our Medieval jewelry lineup, these handmade brass earrings were designed as an element of our Archeress costume. But we think they pair just as perfectly with a wool cardigan, long sleeve tee and jeans!

Poison Ivy Bracelet – Don’t worry – this won’t leave the wearer itchy, and it isn’t contagious. Well, at least not in the medical sense. It does make it very easy to catch a lot of compliments from ladies who want one for themselves!

Medieval Fantasy Necklace – This elegant piece is so very pretty in person, crafted in a soft shade of silver accented with beautiful blue stones. While it can be worn during any season, we think it’s most wonderful for winter. Wear it with a grand Medieval gown, or your favorite, comfy white sweater!

Be sure to browse our full collection of Renaissance and Medieval accessories to find the most fabulous fit for the lady in your present with a passion for the past. We’re always adding new pieces, and hope you love them as much as we do!

One of the greatest joys of the Internet, besides captioned pictures of cute animals, and YouTube adding millions more options to funny video shows previously only available on television, is the fact that there is an overwhelming amount of information on here. It’s not a bad thing – in fact, it’s great!

We may be on the verge of another Renaissance, and the Internet is the new printing press! Never before has there been a time in history that offered the ease at which one can learn new knowledge, gain mastery of a skill, and create, distribute, and discover great art and artists. Just look at websites like Etsy.com and deviantART.com for creative craftsmanship and unique art as a small but important example.

With Etsy and deviantART,  you can find artisanal projects, forged from the hands of modern day masters, who have spent countless hours in workshops,  garages, and studios, slaving away to bring a thought, a feeling, a memory to life. Tell me that’s not done in true Renaissance fashion – and I don’t mean cod pieces and tunics! Minstrels no longer have to wonder, scholars no longer need hide away in monasteries or foreign universities. Websites like PureVolume.com and Facebook.com offer a whole new outlet for musicians. Want to learn more about a subject, or maybe learn something new entirely? Sites like OpenCulture.com offer free courses from some of the best colleges in the world.

So indeed the question must be asked: Will the Internet lead to a Modern Renaissance? Ladies and gentlemen, I think it’s already here! What do you think?

Some of the most wonderful works of art were produced during the Renaissance, but most of us haven’t had the memorable experience of seeing them in person. Seeing a work of art in a book or online isn’t without its merits. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words! But there’s something incomparably special about seeing a piece up close; about taking it in from every angle, realizing that it is truly real.

The first time I visited an art museum, it was the realness that struck me most. Of course I knew that all those paintings I’d seen in textbooks and online were physically out there somewhere. But when you stand before one of them in the flesh, they’re more real than they’ve ever been. You can imagine the artist more fully as a person, picturing them with paintbrush in hand. You can better understand what made this work of art special enough to find its way into books to begin with, because you too will want the whole world to know about it! That’s the beauty of art in real life, whether you’re looking at the paintings of Titian or pieces hanging in a café down the street from a local artist.

One of the best things about a great deal of art is that it can travel. If you want to see the Eiffel Tower you’re going to have to go to Paris; if you want to kiss the Blarney Stone, you’ll be needing to head to Ireland. But you might not have to travel the world to take in your favorite art – it might just come to a city near you! Here are a few places some Renaissance art can be found right now or in the near future. Hopefully one of them will be close by…

Botticelli’s Venus – University of Hong Kong Museum and Art Gallery
Through December 15, 2013

Face to Face: Flanders, Florence and Renaissance Painting – Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA
Through January 13, 2014

Imperial Augsburg: Renaissance Prints and Drawings, 1474-1540 – Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin
Through January 5, 2014

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia – The Material of Culture: Renaissance Medals and Textiles from the Ulrich A. Middeldorf Collection
October 26, 2013 – January 12, 2014

Seeing the Monumental in the Minute: German Renaissance Prints in the Age of Dürer – The Gallery of the College of Staten Island/CUNY
Through November 9, 2013