Pomanders
The pomander, in its simplest form, is a hollow object to hold scented material. This project utilized oranges which were hollowed out and filled with various period materials.
Pomanders in period
Most extant examples of pomanders are metal balls designed with a single large center compartment or a number of smaller compartments which can be opened and filled with scented materials. One example comes from the collection of the Metropolitan museum of art.
The samples above include a ring at the top which was used to hang the pomander from a chain it keep it handy for sniffing as desired by the owner. A number of paintings show individuals holding a pomander including, in some cases, showing the chain which which the pomander was attached to.
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Various museum descriptions and similar sources explain the name as a derivation from the French "pomme ambre" or "pomme d'embre" which translates as "amber apple" and refers to a fruit infused with vinegar and other aromatic substances.
This is consistent with references that include ambergris, a product which comes from whales, as a common early ingredient for pomanders. Thus, a pomander is, in general terms, an apple shaped container of amber(gris).
We are not aware of a pomander made from an orange which has survived to today from medieval times but this does not come as a particular surprise. there is a period description from a period document: The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, attributed to Cavendish sometime between 1500-1561. Specifically, Cardinal Wolsey is described as "holding in his hand a very fair orange, whereof the meat or substance within was taken out, and filled up again with the part of a sponge, wherein was vinegar, and other confections against the pestilent airs, the which he most commonly smelt unto, passing among the press, or else when he was pestered with many suitors." Project Gutenberg has rendered the original text into a digital ebook.
Project description
For this project, we used the Cardinal Wolsey style orange rind pomander. Starting with the orange, the meat was removed (and eaten). A piece of sponge was put into the orange and sprinkled with vinegar. From there various scented materials were added. Information on various aromatics is provided below as part of the materials listing.
Materials
Each pomander could include various aromatics. This materials list includes the base "standard" elements and a sampling of aromatic herbs known to the medieval world. There are numerous optional additions and some good resources for plants known in medieval Europe. In particular, Physica by Hildegard von Bingen written around 1151-1158 is an excellent resource.
Orange
While the orange does not grow well in Europe there was significant trade from the Mediterranean which brought oranges into medieval Europe. The Life of Cardinal Wolsey notes the use of an orange and oranges can be see in Portraint of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife attributed to Jane van Eyck 1434.
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Sage
Sage (selba) is of a hot and dry nature, and grows more from the heat of the sun than from the moisture of the earth. It is useful against ill humors, since it is dry. It is good to eat, raw or cooked, for one whom noxious humors are troubling, since it checks them. Take sage and pulverize it. Eat this powder with bread and it will diminish the superfluity of harmful humors in you.
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Hildegard con Bingen; Physica 1151-1158
Sponge
There are numerous historic references to the use of a sponge and many specific to the use of a “soporific sponge” which was a sponge soaked in various herbs and similar to create a sedative effect for surgery. (Theodoricof Cervia 1205-1298; Cyrurgia Sue Filia Principis 1498; c.f. links below). While the modern manufactured sponge did not exist, the collection of sea sponges for use has a long history pre-period.
Cumin
Cumin (kumel) is dry and of moderate heat. No matter how it is eaten, it is good, useful, and healthful for a person who is congested. But it is harmful for a person who has pain in his heart [because it does not completely warm the heart, which should always be warm].
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Hildegard con Bingen; Physica 1151-1158
Vinegar
Also well known in the medieval world, there are numerous period references to vinegar. For our purposes, we include a recipe for making vinegar from Le Regime du Corps by Aldobrandino da Siena “Fill a container halfway with good wine and do not cover. This way you will obtain a good vinegar. If you want to go faster: heat steel or stones, plunge them into wine without covering.”
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Rosemary
“Rosemary for remembrance”
Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5, lines 199-201
“Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary; On this fair corpse, and, as the custom is,”
Romeo and Juliet, Act 4, Scene 5, lines 79-83