Noble Jewlery

[Bogie]

At the faires I will be playing a character that has no portraits / images, so I have nothing to go off. I do know that all nobles wear a chain of office, which I already have. Some of the more important information about who I am:

I am Baron who was knighted by King Henry VIII and part of the royal bloodline.  I am a justice of the peace, steward of manors and had a seat on the House of Lords.

So my question really becomes, should I be wearing any jewelry/pins/etc. that shows that I am any of the things mentioned above?

If so, what? And where might I be able to procure reproductions or similar items in today's times?

Thanks!

[isabelladangelo]

For inspitration and information:
http://elizabethan-portraits.com/Various_2.htm  - tons of good portraits arranged by year
http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/search.html - search for portraits in Dutch and German countries as well as English in the 1500-1550 time frame.  The English style tends to follow the northern European style at that point in time.

As a man of the noble class, you would most likely wear rings.  Many portraits show men of the upper classes wearing several rings to show off their status.   In a ring, you want the band to be fairly simple and the stone to have little, if any, faucets.  Look for rounded or near round stones.  Pearls, onyx, rubies, and emeralds or similar looking gems are all good to have as the center.  Most of the rings I've bought are from antique and thirft stores for under $5.  Check out the V&A collections to get a good idea of what the rings of period looked like.

However, what would really show of your status would be your clothing.   You'd have more silks, finer wools (wool trade was hugely important to 16th C England), and be able to afford some embroidery on your shirt (particularly the cuffs and neck).  Many people sell machine embroidered linen cuffs and necklines that work pretty well if you don't sew yourself.  You can fabric glue them on to an existing shirt if you *really* don't sew.  However, you probably want someone to either tack them down or use them in a future shirt eventually. 

You'd have a nicer cap than many of the lower classes.  You might have one of velvet or a much finer wool. 

Your shoes also would show your status.  http://www.larsdatter.com/shoes.htm  <- Check out this site for TONS of valuable information

The cowmouth shoe was very popular and I think there is a portrait of Henry VIII wearing them: http://revival.us/kuhmaul.aspx

[Bogie]

Thanks for the detailed response!  I have the embroidery covered with my newest shirt along with the ruffs to show a little more status.

I'll keep an eye out for Rings.  The ones i have are not as correct but will work for the time being. 

I purchased a pair of windwalker moccasins at the Colorado faire and picked them up this year at the Arizona faire, so shoes are covered.