Middle Earth Ranger Forum

Inspiration from an unlikely source

I was researching Victorian and Edwardian metal engraving, specifically on guns, for a steampunk costume I've been working on and here's the page of sketches I ended up with after studying a lot of pictures on google:



And I still can't get over how similar some of the patterning is to the designs on this thread, I have no idea if this was one of Tolkien's inspirations or if it's just pure coincidence

Food for thought anyway

Iodo wrote:Inspiration from an unlikely source

I was researching Victorian and Edwardian metal engraving, specifically on guns, for a steampunk costume I've been working on and here's the page of sketches I ended up with after studying a lot of pictures on google:


And I still can't get over how similar some of the patterning is to the designs on this thread, I have no idea if this was one of Tolkien's inspirations or if it's just pure coincidence

Food for thought anyway

Oh, yes. The Professor was VERY influenced by the illustration and craft design of his childhood. You should compare his work to the illustrator Kay Nielson. I had a big op

caedmon wrote: Oh, yes. The Professor was VERY influenced by the illustration and craft design of his childhood. You should compare his work to the illustrator Kay Nielson. I had a big op

Wow, up until now I hadn't heard of Kay Nielsen, his art is so similar to Tolkien's, very cool

I have to protest! The third drawing is actually made by John Bauer, One of SWEDENS (NOT DENMARKS! >:() finest artist, here are some more works of his.

I don't stand a chance of noticing such things

Well this is cool -

looking through Cedarlore's back catalog, I saw a reference to this thing he made some time back using some of the Professor's doodle-patterns:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNKt2vIFq-Q/

I have loved that flower-in-a-wedge pattern of his for ages. How cool to see it in use!

... and it seems it would pair quite nicely with caedmon's girdle-pouch.

The recent question on Dunedain penannulars had me thinking, tried top stretch into some Numenorean territory beyond the simple arclines and lotus I've been playing with to this point.

caedmon wrote:The recent question on Dunedain penannulars had me thinking, tried top stretch into some Numenorean territory beyond the simple arclines and lotus I've been playing with to this point.

0_0 Welp that's impressive. I definitely buy it as Dunedain.

It's so funny...we all collectively thought that design looked wonky, but now that we see it on an actual piece, it totally works!

Just like the carpet and the other motifs we've looked at...they seem odd in a drawing, but when they get embroidered onto something or scribed into leather, they come alive. I can't ever second-guess a design again!

One more because I can't get it out of my head. This one overlaid on the 9th c. irish penannular that inspired it.

That is STUNNING! My thoughts mirror Greg’s almost directly - I absolutely detested the design when I saw it first, but in this context it is PERFECT. Looks absolutely believable as an authentic cultural embellishment!

Jack, what's the size on the size on that Irish example? Trying to get an idea of how small those design would be engraved.

Udwin wrote:Jack, what's the size on the size on that Irish example? Trying to get an idea of how small those design would be engraved.

The original is in the Walter’s Art Museum in Baltimore. The diameter is 65mm, and the pin is 125mm.

The dunedain spiralwork is MUCH more intricate than the original triskelion, and May not be very practical.

Amazing, simply amazing!

Oh.... I really like that second one especially.

The not-quite-Mediterranean art and Irish form *really* reminds me of some of the old "Sea People" proto-Celt vibe I think The Professor was channeling in his later Numenorean writings.

Incredible!