London Brass Rubbing Workshops
a service of Maryville University

Workshop Description

Brass Rubbing is a terrific in-house field trip designed to fit perfectly with the curriculum.
Students will rub “elbows” with Medieval Crusader knights, royal ladies, kings and animals
associated with this fascinating time period.

More than 30 English plates or replica “brasses” will be brought to your school
(see example on the left).  A brief history of the plates will be presented as well as
instructions on how to make a rubbing.  All materials will be supplied including the
special black cotton rag paper and metallic crayons from England.

In Medieval England, and many other European countries for that matter, it was common for
people of nobility or wealth to have a brass placed in their honor either on the floor or wall
of their local church.  These “brasses” were quite often used as tombstones and would
bear their likeness, capturing the history of their clothing, armour, weapons, hairstyles and
such.  The term “brass rubbing” came about when travelers in the early 1940’s visited these
churches and would cover them with paper and make a rubbing using a ball of wax right
there on the church floor.  After many years, the society that protects the plates felt it best
not to rub on the originals any longer as this was causing damage to the plates.  Instead,
copies or replicas were made and give the same results without the damage.
A hands-on medieval art history project comes to your school
Replica plate of
Sir George Felbrigg
314-529-6854
or e-mail
chollenbeck@maryville.edu
Replica plates of Unicorn, Lion & Griffon
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