Annotated list of suppliers
last updated March 27, 2009Having spent several Pennsic Wars scouring the shopping district, and much other time scouring the web for vendors, here's my list of favorite merchants. Their one characteristic in common is that they all cater towards, or are useful for, people who favor historic authenticity (as opposed to merchants who specialize in the standard SCA mishmash of sort-of-period stuff). A few aren't directly connected with the SCA at all. I haven't bought from all of them (yet); I don't work for any of them; and any purchases on your part are your own responsibility...
I am adding a new category for suppliers in the UK. I have a bad feeling I'll be coming back from my next trip with a suitcase full of supplies.
Textile related | Jewelry | Shoes | Feast & Kitchen | General Supplies | Scribal |
Textiles related
The Tudor Tailor
Highlights: Buying direct from this web site increases the author's direct take (publisher is Batsford). Also the source for some wonderful and reasonably priced pewter buttons.Aurora Silk
Highlights: Silk floss & yarns died with period appropriate natural dyes. Beautiful!! Also sells some dyestuffs, including weld. Located in the USA.Barjaval Design
Highlights: Linen and silk noil. Also is a US supplier for some of Steve Millingham's pewter items.B. Black & Sons
Highlights: I've seen them recommended many times as a great source for wool. Not cheap, but check their specials page.Denver Fabrics
Highlights: Excellent online supplier of discounted Irish linen, wool, silk, and other fabrics. Located in USA.Dharma Trading
Highlights: Great source for undyed silk, silk scarfs, even nifty silk gift bags that you can dye yourself. Excellent prices on the few natural dyeing supplies they carry. Friendly service. Located in USA.Fabrics-store.com
Highlights: Excellent source for inexpensive linen (mostly imported from Russia). Be warned, though, the fabric can be slubby. Located in USA.Griffen Dyeworks
Highlights: Wide array of natural dyes and dyeing supplies. They currently have a supply of large stainless steel pots at low, low prices. Run by SCAdians. Located in USA.Hedgehog Handworks
Highlights: For embroidery supplies, including linen, books, and miscellaneous other, including metal threads and costuming supplies.Renaissance Dyeing
Highlights: Embroidery yarns dyed with period appropriate natural dyestuffs. Formerly known as Broider wul, their online prices no longer include shipping/handling charges. The yarn is a lovely lambswool, and the colors are fabulous!Scarlet Letter
Highlights: For embroidery supplies, including linen, books, and miscellaneous other.Silk Connection
Highlights: Excellent prices on undyed silks. Their 5mm habotai starts at $1.98/yd.Thai Silks
Highlights: Another great source for undyed silks.William Booth, Draper
Highlights: A Rev War supplier, who carries fabulous woolens and linens, and tools including pinkers.
Jewelry
Acanthusleaf Design
Highlights: Beautiful items, but not a huge range. Includes regalia items for SCA. Located in USA.Billy and Charlie's Finest Quality Pewter Goods
Highlights: Pewter pilgrim & carnival badges; belts and belt fittings. Now offering what look to be fine quality pewter tableware, including trenchers, a salt, and a really neat folding spoon. Pennsic favorites! Located in USA.Blackwood Jewelry
Highlights: Toothpick/earspoon (documentation included on web site); nice leather garters & belts; livery collars. Located in USA (SCA Kingdom of Atlantia).Fettered Cock Pewters
Highlights: Pewter pilgrim & carnival badges; belts and belt mounts; buttons and veil pins. Personally, I really like the veil pins. A Pennsic favorite. Located in Canada; will ship to the USA.Gaulker Medieval Wares
Highlights: There are two parts to the 'store'--one selling high quality reproductions of medieval jewelry and miscellaneous items (bronze dip pen, silverpoint stylus and treated sketchbook, curtain hooks...), and the other selling actual medieval artefacts. A Pennsic favorite. Located in Canada, but prices are listed in US$.Raymond's Quiet Press
Highlights: Anglo-Saxon, Norman, Viking jewelry, and items from other periods as well. The Sutton Hoo reproductions are fabulous...actually, everything here is fabulous, and the prices are very reasonable. Each year I sponsored Atlantia's Pentathlon in Persona I purchased the prizes from this merchant, and had a hard time giving them up. I just like bright & shiny things, I guess. Located in the USA.Steve Millingham Pewter Replicas online shop
Highlights: Tudor jewelry; reproduction coins (the gold angel is a bargain!); spoons (including the only reproduction Apostle Spoons I've seen for sale); many pilgrim badges (these come with a modern tie tack type pin attached). Located in UK; will ship to US.Talbot's Fine Accessories
Highlights: I'm surprised at myself for not listing them sooner. Reproductions, actual artefacts, and how-to publications. Located in US, accepts Paypal.
Shoes
Dru Shoemaker
Highlights: Shoes, shoes, shoes! Includes one style of patents I've not seen offered by other merchants. Turnaround time on orders can be 6 months. Located in USA.Plantagenet Shoes
Highlights: Shoes, shoes, shoes, from Roman era through 18th century (most variety in 1000-1600 periods). Recommened by a UK reenactor.SB Juniper, Handsewn Boots & Shoes
Highlights: The name about says it all. If you're looking for Roman, Tudor, Stuart, 18th and 19th century shoes, she has an excellent reputation (and a high WOW factory IMO!). I long for a pair of Tudor T4. Note that she does not make turnshoes. Located in UK, lists prices in pounds and euros.
Feast & Kitchen
Goosebay Workshops
Highlights: Museum quality reproduction copperware & some glassware. Prices are high. Focus is on 18th and 19th Century items, some are valid for 17th C (and maybe earlier?). Located in USA.Forest Glass
Highlights: Hand blown historic glass. Located in UK.House on the Hill
Highlights: Springerle cookie molds. Located in USA.International Trading Company
Highlights: Cookie molds, some of which would work for making late period sweets. Located in Canada.Plimoth Plantation
Highlights: Reproduction pottery items (early 17th C) available in their online store, also some spoons. Located in the USA.
General Supplies
Historic Enterprises
Highlights: 15th century style men and women's clothing, available in cotton, linen or wool; pottery; cutlery; the most inexpensive turnshoes and patents I've yet found; and many more highly worthwhile items. Pennsic favorites! Located in USA.Irontree Works
Highlights: Traditional & modern blacksmithing, offering a range of camping related items, housewares, jewelry. Located in MN (USA).Jas Townsend & Son
Highlights: Caters to 18th/19th C reenactors, but contains various items useful to late period SCAdians--such as wool socks, oak barrels, games, and more. Fast service. Located in USA.The Spanish Peacock
Highlights: The best in non-furniture woodworking in Atlantia. I own two of their wax tablets, and know many people who adore their spindles and knitting needles. Try to catch them at an event, or place custom order online.Syke's Sutlering
Highlights: Well known among the late-period rapier community. Located in USA.Revival.us
Highlights: Site for Chivalry Bookshelf, Revival Clothing, interesting bits and pieces (including pavillions from Europe). Very nice looking eating/utility knives. "Ready made" period style turnshoes in standard sizes. Located in US; merchants at Pennsic.
Scribal Supplies
John Neal, Bookseller
Highlights: Real vellum, in various sizes (you can even purchase an entire hide); cured, uncut goose quills and quills already cut and ready to write with; gilding supplies; reference books; guache, etc. He is selling flat packages of pre-cut Pergamenata specifically to meet SCA needs. Located in USA.Kremer Pigments
Highlights: "Raw materials for fine arts." Not cheap, but a great source for otherwise hard to find supplies. They even carry rare natural dyes, including Murex. Located in New York & Germany, with multilingual web site.Paper& Ink Arts
Highlights: Calligraphy supplies; useful to compare prices with JNB (above). Web site now contains their catalog for online shopping.. Located in USA.Tod's Stuff
Highlights: Great looking metal utensils including pen knives. The first supplier I've found that sells actual horn inkwells. Located in UK; email him directly for mail order. Located in the UK.
UK Suppliers
KM Garlick - Shoemakers
Highlights: Shoes! (I wonder why there are so many historic shoemakers Over There, and so few Over Here...) Shop located on the Isle of Wight; does mail order.The Green Carpenter
Highlights: Check out the Time Warp section for things like embroidery frames, silver point stylus...lots of stuff I'd want to buy. ;-)Grunal Moneta
Highlights: Reproduction coins available in pewter, silver, copper, and gold plated.Forest Glass
Highlights: Hand blown historic glass.The Jelling Dragon
Highlights: Viking items, they look great. Prices are listed in British pounds and US dollars.Karl Robinson, leather worker
Highlights: Purses, bags, belts, they look great! Located in Middlesex.The Merchant Venturers
Highlights: Nice selection of late period glassware; also armor, pewter, other bits & pieces.Monkshood Medieval Furniture
Highlights: Yet another reason I want to shop in the UK !Phil Fraser
Highlights: 14th-15th C 'accoutrements' including longbow supplies, shoes, pouches, clothing, knives (eating knives, etc). I recently purchased some items and am delighted with the quality. Takes Paypal. Located in Essex.Plantagenet Shoes
Highlights: Shoes, shoes, shoes, from Roman era through 18th century (most variety in 1000-1600 periods). Recommended by a UK reenactor.Robin Wood
Highlights: Wooden bowls, plates, etc., using a foot powered lathe. Has made historic replicas for Mary Rose Trust.SB Juniper, Handsewn Boots & Shoes
Highlights: The name about says it all. If you're looking for Roman, Tudor, Stuart, 18th and 19th century shoes, she has an excellent reputation (and a high WOW factory IMO!). I long for a pair of Tudor T4. Note that she does not make turnshoes. Located in UK, lists prices in pounds and euros.Steve Millingham Pewter Replicas online shop
Highlights: Tudor jewelry; reproduction coins (the gold angel is a bargain!); spoons (including the only reproduction Apostle Spoons I've seen for sale); many pilgrim badges (these come with a modern tie tack type pin attached). Located in UK; will ship to US.Tod's Stuff
Highlights: Great looking metal utensils (knives for eating/cooking, penknives, etc). Also leather items, such as costrels. Looks to me like the stuff is most useful for late medieval/Tudor periods. the first supplier I've found that sells actual horn inkwells. Email him directly for mail order.Traditional Materials
Highlights: Supplier for leather, wood, metals, horn, bone, rope, parchment, tools and a host of other materials.Trinity Court Potteries
Highlights: Roman, medieval and post medieval pottery, and some majolica. In the US, Historic Enterprises carries a few of their items.The Tudor Market
Highlights: Site links you to a variety of UK suppliers and craftspeople, well worth a look!
