The other weekend I was out watching my son compete in the big Silver Sculls rowing event which his club runs. Over 500 crews competing upstream (against a very strong current and strong wind) from Walton to Weybridge on the River Thames. Walking along the river bank on the Walton side I spotted this curious statue in a Garden on the Shepperton side of the river. I recognised it immediately as a representation of one of the Lewis chess pieces now mainly in the British museum (some are on display in Edinburgh and there is a big argument about where they should reside). It certainly looked rather curious, especially given its size, and I wonder how and why it got there. Makes a change from a garden gnome, I suppose.
Actually, if you want a Viking Garden Gnome you can get this one which is very much from the Warhammer school of anatomy.
Discovered in Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831 it is thought that the originals, which are mainly carved from Walrus tusk, are 12th Century and originate from Trondheim in Norway. The late date is evidenced by the fact that the warriors have kite shields rather than the prototypical round Viking ones. The lack of wear on them has led to the suggestion that they were a trader's stock perhaps en route to Dublin.
Currently, I am watching the drama series Vikings which is grimly enjoyable. As ever, some of the costumes owe rather too much to the whims of the costume designers (those enemies of cinematic authenticity) using far too much textured leather (the same issue as in Musketeers) although the villagers costumes look quite good.
The buildings look much better, however. They eschew the usually depicted thatch roofs for wooden shingles.
A few years ago I went to a very interesting exhibition at the University of Oslo Museum of Cultural History on the Viking town of Kaupang. The buildings illustrated in pictures and models at the exhibition were just like the ones built on the sets in Ireland.
The series is filmed in Ireland although a few shots of the fjords were done in Norway. The ships look excellent, although I winced when I saw the steering oars on the port side of the ships (er, steer board).
Gripping Beast Vikings were the first 28mm metal figures I bought and I have a number of them, plus some Artizan and Foundry ones. I painted most of these a long time ago, probably the earliest ones were in the late nineties, but I could probably tidy them up fairly quickly.
I suppose the ideal rules for Vikings would be Saga, which I have got, although it seems a little too "gamesy" for me. Something like the Games Workshop Lord of the Rings Battle Companies rules might work well. I'm also tempted by a larger Lion Rampant force to fight the Moors in Spain and maybe the Carolingians. Hmm. At least I have enough unpainted figures to not have to add more to the lead pile!
Inevitable feisty shield maiden included
Currently, I am watching the drama series Vikings which is grimly enjoyable. As ever, some of the costumes owe rather too much to the whims of the costume designers (those enemies of cinematic authenticity) using far too much textured leather (the same issue as in Musketeers) although the villagers costumes look quite good.
Vikings set in County Wicklow
The buildings look much better, however. They eschew the usually depicted thatch roofs for wooden shingles.
Kaupang
A few years ago I went to a very interesting exhibition at the University of Oslo Museum of Cultural History on the Viking town of Kaupang. The buildings illustrated in pictures and models at the exhibition were just like the ones built on the sets in Ireland.
The series is filmed in Ireland although a few shots of the fjords were done in Norway. The ships look excellent, although I winced when I saw the steering oars on the port side of the ships (er, steer board).
Gripping Beast Vikings were the first 28mm metal figures I bought and I have a number of them, plus some Artizan and Foundry ones. I painted most of these a long time ago, probably the earliest ones were in the late nineties, but I could probably tidy them up fairly quickly.
I suppose the ideal rules for Vikings would be Saga, which I have got, although it seems a little too "gamesy" for me. Something like the Games Workshop Lord of the Rings Battle Companies rules might work well. I'm also tempted by a larger Lion Rampant force to fight the Moors in Spain and maybe the Carolingians. Hmm. At least I have enough unpainted figures to not have to add more to the lead pile!
Come on man!!! You never really need an excuse to add the to lead pile!
ReplyDeleteI really must have a look at Vikings the TV show, I heard good things before and now with the addition of said feisty shield maiden what's not to like? But more Vikings, you know you want too! ;)
ReplyDeleteI never thought I'd see you object to blondes in textured leather.
ReplyDeleteFMB
saga....great fun.
ReplyDeleteWe must show you a game sometime
That would be good! At least I have the figures for it!
DeleteLegatus Hedlius, Ave!
ReplyDeleteViking barbarians? They look to be relatives of those damned Frisians with whom we've had to deal lately. Isn't it a pleasure to be able to draw out figures from days past and use them in today's table top battles. Rather like the way the movies handle the presence of the Sarmatian mounted warriors in King Arthur....
In reading your post, it seems that you are a bit unsatisfied with the current crop of rules. Why not write your own? Get your scribe to jot down how you want a game to play and go forward. I'm certain you have more than a few good ideas about how you would like your game to go.
Salve,
Gerardus Magnus
"You can call me Magnus."
The garden viking is terrifying.
ReplyDeleteI havent seen this as yet though the trailers look exciting... sadly my TV viewing desires have to compete with cookery, house buying, and whos the best singer shows and an assortment of childrens entertainments that I usually give up getting anyway near the box... probably just aswell, I get more painting done that way...
ReplyDeleteThings have improved in this house since we got Guy his own TV and internet connection! No more losing the TV to the X box until midnight every night!
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