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Knowne World Courtesans

 

CONTENT WARNING: Some of the material on this page may be sexually explicit in nature. Viewer discretion is advised.

 

By continuing you agree that you are legally an adult according to your local governmental codes and that you consent to view material that may be sexually explicit in nature. 

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A red medieval banner with a gold stag with one foreleg raised

The Knowne World Courtesans are a free confederation of people dedicated to promoting courtesan/sex worker personas in the SCA. We study historical gender and sexuality topics with a focus on historical sex work. 

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Much like the armored fighters of the SCA don't actually kill people, the courtesans of the KWC do not have sex for money (we do, however, support the rights of modern sex workers).

 

What do we do, then? Well, we:

  • host parties

  • teach classes

  • escort patrons to social events

  • provide hospitality 

  • support our members

  • support members of marginalized groups in the SCA

  • study arts in which historical sex workers would be skilled

  • research topics related to historical gender and sexuality

  • organize and participate in ~shenanigans~

 

To learn more about the KWC, visit our website, or like our Facebook page. You can also join our Study and Support group. Check out Whores to Culture, the KWC podcast! 

We are also on:

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So how did I get involved with the KWC?

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In 2015 I attended my first Pennsic, and I happened to attend a class about the history of prostitution. The instructor, Lady (now Mistress) Magdalena la Sanguigni, was from my kingdom (Atlantia) and talked about having a courtesan persona. I had chosen an Italian Renaissance persona because I liked the garb, and I'd registered a name but hadn't decided anything else about her yet. Hearing Mistress Magdalena talk about the courtesans, what they were able to do and the place they held in society, ignited a spark.

 

Soon I had joined the Knowne World Courtesans group on Facebook. Around this time, the KWC started experiencing an explosion of growth as more and more people became interested in our activities. We have registered a badge, jointly owned by Mistress Magdalena and myself, which is for all KWC members to use, which is blazoned "Gules, a hart trippant and a bordure Or" or in plain English, “a red background, a gold stag with one foreleg raised, and a gold border” (it's a Hart of Gold - geddit?). We also adopted the red veil as a symbol, which some of us choose to wear to mark our membership.

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We have hosted parties at several events, done service in various ways to benefit the SCA, had members teaching a huge variety of topics, and we're constantly finding more and more people interested in what we do. Being a part of a group full of supportive, talented people from all over the Knowne World has been so inspiring and empowering.  Whether we're boosting the voices of those who are less powerful or sharing period dick jokes, we have an amazing time!

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Projects

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Hart of Gold Banner

Gold pasties for the Bacchanal

Period Heroes

NSFW pilgrim badges (and other jewelry and trinkets)

Hart of Gold belt favor

Fundraiser jewelry project (coming soon)


Hart of Gold Banner

In 2017, we wanted to have a banner to carry for the procession for opening ceremonies at Pennsic. I put together one, having never done anything of the sort before. I wanted the whole thing to be easy to take apart and pack.

 

I got some red duck canvas from Jo-Ann (I believe it was one of the remnants they sell) and some Tulip Soft Metallics gold fabric paint (also from Jo-Ann). First I cut the bottom the way I wanted, to look like a gonfalon. I painted the edges with Fray Check.  I drew, and redrew, and redew, an outline of the hart, using various online reference images. When I was finally happy with the shape I painted the whole thing. I believe it was only two coats. When it was dry I used a damp rag to wipe away the leftover chalk. 

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I got the same metallic cord from Jo-Ann that I used to make the belt to go with my red stola to hold the horizontal rod in place. I couldn't find any tassels that matched so I made my own. They weren't great looking nor were they sturdy, but the banner wasn't really made to last a long time. I folded the top edge over the horizontal rod I'd gotten and sewed it straight across with a little wiggle room.

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I bought this deer head figure from Amazon, and this curtain rod with finials from Walmart. I also got a _ inch diameter pole and a __ inch diameter rod from the hardware store, and some gold spray paint. I spray painted the finials gold. I asked my father to screw the finials to each end of the horizontal rod and drill a hole through the the top of the pole. He also put screws a little ways in from each end of the rod which stick out slightly and keep the cord from sliding too far inwards. He helped me cut the base off the deer head figure and drill holes through each side. The figure fits over the top of the pole and is held in place by a dowel with a rubber band looped around the ends. 

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When packing for travel, the deer figure goes inside an old toolbox with foam padding in it. The cord is untied from the rod and wrapped around the pole, and the banner gets rolled up.

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Concept are of a red medieval banner with a gold stag with one foreleg raised
A red medieval banner with a gold stag with one foreleg raised
A red medieval banner with a gold stag with one foreleg raised
Closeup of two women holding up a medieval banner showing the pole and crossbar
 
Gold pasties for the Bacchanal

For the Bacchanal the KWC hosted at Pennsic 2018, an idea was jokingly put forth that we gild our nipples, inspired by Juvenal's Satire VI, in which he describes Valeria Messalina going to a brothel to work as a sex worker, "her nipples bare and gilded." A little discussion amongst ourselves revealed the idea was quite popular.  Based on the recommendations from some of our members who perform burlesque dances, I assembled the materials for make pasties, along with some gold body paints.

A collection of gold craft supplies and body paint
A 3 pack of Hollywood Fashion Tape

Here's what I got:

 

Courtesans and guests were offered the opportunity to make pasties or use the paints and it ended up being extremely popular. Next year I will set up an actual station that doesn't require supervision. 

 
Period Heroes

The Period Heroes are a volunteer group that provides menstrual supplies in bathrooms at SCA events. They are a group in which my friend and Scadian "cousin," Justina di Silvestri, is an admin and active proponent. I helped put these bags together for Winter University 2018, with pads, tampons, flushable wipes, disposable menstrual cups, and Thermacare. We've made them available at several events and gotten some great positive feedback from people! 

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Brown paper bags with "Period Heroes" signs attached
 
NSFW pilgrim badges (and other jewelry and trinkets)

I have been collecting these at Pennsic since my first one in 2015. Most of the pieces come from Fettered Cock Pewters or Willy and Charlie, the shop Billy and Charlie's Finest Quality Pewter Goods becomes during Midnight Madness at Pennsic. 

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Hopefully I've got all these sourced correctly:

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A collection of sexually suggestive medieval pilgrim badges and other jewelery
A collection of sexually suggestive medieval pilgrim badges and other jewelery
A collection of sexually suggestive medieval pilgrim badges and other jewelery
16 spintriae (brothel tokens)
A silver ring with a vulva shape
 
Hart of Gold belt favor

2018: I got some red bed sheets at a thrift store. I traced this heraldic stag image onto a piece of a translucent report cover and cut out the shape. With the fabric paint I got for the banner, I painted over the stencil and let it dry. I have cut out the piece but I have yet to actually sew it into a belt favor.

I brought the supplies with me to Pennsic and a couple of people painted their own. I plan to bring them again next Pennsic.

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A stag with one foreleg raised in gold fabric paint on red fabric
Banner
Pasties
Period Heroes
NSFW jewelry
belt favor
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