Charter Design

Have you ever tried to find sources for an 11th century Icelandic style award that isn't yet another runestone?  Nothing against runestone styles, but if your kingdom is so full of Norse culture that a newcomer has asked you if they're required to have a Norse persona, you might feel a need to branch out of the tried and true.  (True story, and was the impetus for me to finally break out of my Hiberno-Norse into full Irish kit).

Enter derpy birds and elephants!  I present to you the Physiologus og fleira, 1190-1210 Iceland.  It's severely damaged and in two pieces.

 

 

It's hard to see from all the worm holes(?), but along the left there are birds among foilage.

 

Yes, that's supposed to be an elephant.  I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for the following.  The chamfron is covering the poor pachyderm's eyes!  Horses weren't unknown in Iceland and they had chamfrons, too, that didn't cover their eyes, but maybe the artist found it easier just to cover the entire face?  I mean, I can hardly fault them for that, I just laugh every time I see it.

And is it just me, or does the warrior second from the left look a little Strange Planet-y? 

 I see no difference.

 

And yes, the one on the right has a :3 face!

 

First, the birds, which was my submission for an award that recognizes people who help and guide newcomers.  Some of them and a few leaves are from other pages in the same manuscript.