[MR] Why new crowns?

[Sir Janos of Cyddlain Downs]

Luce,

   Perhaps you don't realize that the correct name for the Crowns you are
referring to is the "Sea Horse" Crowns.  We find the other name offensive
and inappropriate.  We have worn them many times during Our Reign and the
most common response has been "Are those new" and "They look awesome".  They
were worn by Jarl Black Kane O'Shannon and Countess Muirgen during their
Reign and have treasured memories for Us.  We ask that you honor Our wishes
on this.

Janos & Rachel
Rex et Regina Atlantia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "egeorges" <egeorges at cox.net>
To: <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 10:13 AM
Subject: [MR] Why new crowns?


> More than one person has expressed a wish for clarification on this issue,
> so I'll try to address it.
>
> Keep in mind, that on this particular issue, I am speaking as an
individual,
> not on behalf of the New Regalia Committee as a whole.  Other members of
the
> Committee, and those that appointed us to this task, as well as the
Finance
> Committee who is overseeing us, may wish to chime in here as well with
their
> thoughts to give a more complete picture.
>
> Currently, there are 3 sets of Royal Coronets in the regalia -- the "Sea
> World" crowns, the "Sea Shell" Crowns, and a set of crowns with green
> stones.  Each of the crowns suffers from various design flaws that
> exacerbate the wearability and durability issues.  The Sea Shell crowns
are
> very heavy and are prone to losing stones out of the settings.  The Sea
> World crowns have a curious weight distribution issue that tends to send
> them tumbling off the wearer's head at inopportune moments.  The green
stone
> crowns are very fragile, and do not travel well, so are of limited use.
> None of our current crowns are adjustable to the wearer save by padding
the
> inside.
>
> All of these crowns are currently sevicable, but all of them have been
> through quite a bit of wear and tear over the years and all have been
> repaired several times.  Remember, these are items that generally get
> transported around a lot, worn a lot, and worn by a new person every 6
> months.  Unlike a piece of personal jewelry, these crowns get subjected to
a
> significant amount of wear and tear in a very short timeframe.  Yes, we
can
> continue to repair over and over again the crowns we have, but with each
> repair the crowns become weaker in construction, less durable, and even
more
> prone to breaking.  This is the simple, irrefutable fact of metallurgy --
> every time you resolder a joint or re-set a stone, the metal gets a little
> weaker in the wearing.  Sooner or later, the cost and inconvenience of
> continual repair begins to exceed the cost of replacement.  Replacement of
> one or more of these crowns is, in some respects, inevitable.  None of us
> wants to wait until the crowns are irretrievably broken before replacing
> them.  To do that would mean that we would lose even the ability to
display
> some of the older regalia for future generations of Atlantians.  Good
> husbandry of our regalia requires that from time to time we create new
> crowns and retire old ones.  The seashell crowns, which are our newest
> crowns, are at least six years old, probably older, I think.
>
> The New Regailia Committee was created by Cuan and Padraiga during their
> second reign to solicit designs and oversee construction for a new set of
> crowns for the King and Queen (no decision has yet been made to create new
> crowns for Their Highnesses).  They solicited membership for the committee
> via the Acorn.  The Committee is being overseen by the Kingdom Seneshal,
> Their Majesties, and the Kingdom Finance Committee and the creation of the
> new crowns will be done in accord with the Kingdom Financial Policy.  If
you
> have questions about the financial end of it, I'm unfortunately not an
> expert on that.  I do know that Kingdom Financial Policy has been
carefully
> crafted to avoid abuses of Kingdom resources by making sure that major
> expenditures are carefully reviewed by a range of individuals.  Someone
else
> may want to provide more information on that end of things.
>
> I hope this helps clarify it a little.
>
> In Service,
> Luce Antony Venus
>
>
>
>
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