The Abbey Museum sets the minimum standard for costuming for the 2010 Abbey Medieval Festival at ACCEPTABLE QUALITY.

Standards are adapted from UNIO: Quarterly Paper of the Queensland Living History Federation (Inc.) Vol. 1, No. 1, March 1999:10-21).

Museum quality:

Design, materials and methods are identical to those of the time and place one is attempting to represent.  As an example this would involve copying an original garment down to the last stitch.

Acceptable quality:

Having one or more variation from museum quality, which does not significantly detract from its use in historic representation.  This might allow garments with a modern material lining or synthetic thread, but which has the exact look of the original.

Marginal quality:

Having one or more variations from museum quality or subject to questionable interpretations of historic fact, which significantly detracts from its use.  The use of incorrect weight material, change in design or fit which are noticeable on close inspection, or incorrect materials for buttons, falls into this category.

Unacceptable:

Anything which is clearly unquestionably wrong, ie polyester materials, modern shirts, wrist watches, chromed metals, mobile phones, stay-brite buttons.  We discourage the wearing of modern eyeglasses.

How can we help?

The Abbey Museum has an extensive number of medieval costume books in its Library.  Access to these is by appointment.  Phone 07 5495 1652.  We are always happy to talk to you.

Photo: David de Groot   

Also look at the Medieval Stallholder’s Assistant which has great links and costume ideas.  Link coming...

Rosalie's Medieval Woman website

http://rosaliegilbert.com/.  A site that contains excellent quality information on costuming and things medieval.  Rosalie has been a long term supporter and a great advocate of the Abbey Medieval Festival and we value her opinions and research.