Frankish (600-800AD) clothing sources

[Jeroen Zuiderwijk]

I'm looking for direct sources for a layman's outfit for the Franks around 600-800AD. So far I know some details about fabric etc., but finding information regarding the actual clothing is proving rather difficult. Does anyone know any finds or good depictions of Franks and their clothing from that period?

[Douglas S]

The Thorsbjerg and Damendorf finds have been used as frog DNA for similar cultures:
http://www.gelfling.dds.nl/thorsbjerg.html
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/clothing.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorsberg

You probably want to look for contemporary illustrations.

[Hugh Fuller]

Raymond's Quiet Press has some nice appearing Frankish buckles, pins, and brooches as does Mark Shier at Gaukler Medieval Wares.
http://www.quietpress.com/frankish.html#A14

http://www.medievalwares.com/dark_ages.htm

Of course, there is always Holger Ratsdorf in Germany at www.hr-replikate.de for his excellent metalwork.

[Hugh Fuller]

Originally Posted by Douglas S

The Thorsbjerg and Damendorf finds have been used as frog DNA for similar cultures:
http://www.gelfling.dds.nl/thorsbjerg.html
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/clothing.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorsberg

You probably want to look for contemporary illustrations.

"Frog DNA" perhaps, but by the 9th Century the tunics were developing into the gored tunics of the later Viking Era, meaning that the skirts on them were rather more flared than the ones on the Thorsberg finds which pretty much all predated 400 CE. The sleeves were also rather longer and, IIRC, the cloaks were also rather more voluminous unless one is talking of the short cloak to which Charlemagne made reference when he complained about how it did not keep his fundament warm on the jakes.

[Wolfgang Ritter]

Originally Posted by Jeroen Zuiderwijk

I'm looking for direct sources for a layman's outfit for the Franks around 600-800AD. So far I know some details about fabric etc., but finding information regarding the actual clothing is proving rather difficult. Does anyone know any finds or good depictions of Franks and their clothing from that period?

Hi, absolutely not my "timeframe" in living history, but there: http://www.christentum.ch/stuttgpsalt.htm
are at least some nice images from the Stuttgarter Psalter.
If you're capable of reading german, you should search here: http://www.tempus-vivit.net/taverne it's the biggest german speaking forum for the middle ages and should contain some info and links on the earlier periods, like the carolingian time.
reegards
Wolfgang

[Douglas S]

There's also the recently revised work Dress in Anglo-Saxon England by Gale R. Owen-Crocker. Your period is covered and some Frankish sources are used.

[Jeroen Zuiderwijk]

Thanks!

[Steven Lowe]

Wolfgang, thanks very much for that site! I didn't know about it, and it's FULL of really good pictures!

Jeroen, you might be interested in looking at this thread on another forum. It has quite a lot of contemporary pictures of Franks from 800 and later.

You should also have a good look at this site. It's FULL of Carolingian manuscripts, including the wonderful Golden Psalter of Saint Gallen.

Steven Lowe (otherwise known as Egfroth)

[Mark Shier]

Dress in Anglo-Saxon England can't be praised too highly.
mark
ps my apprentice is just finishing a Merovingian gold and garnet cloisonne brooch. I'll post pictures in the proper forum when it's done.

[Wolfgang Ritter]

Originally Posted by Steven Lowe

Wolfgang, thanks very much for that site! I didn't know about it, and it's FULL of really good pictures!

Jeroen, you might be interested in looking at this thread on another forum. It has quite a lot of contemporary pictures of Franks from 800 and later.

You should also have a good look at this site. It's FULL of Carolingian manuscripts, including the wonderful Golden Psalter of Saint Gallen.

Steven Lowe (otherwise known as Egfroth)

Your welcome Steven - and thanks a lot (I mean A LOT) for your link to the CESG!
Regards
Wolfgang

[Hugh Fuller]

Originally Posted by Douglas S

There's also the recently revised work Dress in Anglo-Saxon England by Gale R. Owen-Crocker. Your period is covered and some Frankish sources are used.

I missed this post when I looked att he thread a bit back. I have the book and it is really excellent for Anglo-Saxon of nearly all periods of their involvement in England. And it does, indeed, address Frankish styles to a degree as the Franks definitely influenced the contemporary Anglo-Saxons. It also has a section on the Danes in the Danelaw. It has a few color plates but literally hundreds of marginal sketches to illustrate various points.