How to Design and Pen Cadels
I was honored and excited to do a late German scroll recently. Excited for the opportunity to create cadels, as many late period German texts have.
This is how I went about it.
After receiving the text, I researched legal illuminated German works from the 15th century and calligraphy cadel images. I had my plan and did the layout. I then lettered the text body.
This is how I went about it.
After receiving the text, I researched legal illuminated German works from the 15th century and calligraphy cadel images. I had my plan and did the layout. I then lettered the text body.
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| Final Inspiration |
I selected the versal and additional letters I wanted to embellish with cadels. I made pencil sketches of the letter in a size that would fit the text’s planned space. I then worked up a few. Unfortunately, the sketches don’t scan with enough contrast to show here.
I didn’t like these so I went back to research and found this. Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, AN II 3, p. 36v – Matriculation Register of the Rectorate of the University of Basel, Volume 1 (1460-1567) v. 36
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| Versal mockup for size. |
I worked this up as I described above and liked it.
Using my light pad, I transferred the cadel outline bones to the scroll with a hard pencil.
Then I used a #2 Mitchel dip pen nib to letter the lines and broadest cadel parts turning the pen to make the thinnest lines. I added details with a smaller nib.
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| Versal with cadel on scroll. |
The example I chose had red filigree. For this scroll, I substituted gold Pearl EX bound with gum Arabic for the red because this is a peerage award. The request was to keep costs low so I did not use the pricer shell gold.
The award won’t be given until Lilies War, so I can’t show my finished work until after then. Please check back later.
External Internet Source:
The Pensive Pen’s Method beautiful scroll.
Prior Blog Post:
How to Use a Dip Pen
Categories: How-to
An Itinerant Scribe 