A to Z Challenge post - N is for Nef and Name of the Rose

Howdy do, all! I am very proud that I am still managing to keep up with the challenge. It gives me hope for other things in my life.

Today's "N" word is: nef. There are many definitions of this word; some references are historical, people (with Nef as a last name - many of them are Swiss), places, acronyms, mathematics, biology and chemistry, photography, and electronic filing.

But the definition I am choosing today refers to metalwork; specifically, an extravagant table ornament and container used in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, made of precious metals in the shape of a ship. Sometimes it was just decoration, but sometimes it held salt or spices, cutlery, or even napkins. Nefs are recorded in France as early as 1239, initially consisting of just the hull and was probably used to drink from; by the 15th century the more elaborate had masts, sails, and even crew, and had become too crowded with details to be used as containers to hold anything.

A nef was usually made of silver, silver-gilt or gold, often further embellished with enamel and precious jewels. Some nefs had wheels to allow them to be rolled from one end of the table to the other, but most had legs or pedestals. It was placed in front of the most important person at the table as a mark of their status.

Here are a few lovely examples:

www.ascasonline.org
 

www.mimifroufrou.com
 

 

www.silvercollection.it



 

 Today's movie selection is an oldie but a goodie: (The) Name of the Rose. This 1986 film stars Sean Connery, a very young Christian Slater, Helmut Qualtinger, Valentina Vargas, F. Murray Abraham, and Ron Perlman. I'm pretty sure this is the first movie I had ever seen Ron Perlman in.  Sean Connery won a BAFTA for Best Actor, and he and the film won several other foreign film awards.

Storyline from IMBd: 1327: after a mysterious death in a Benedictine Abbey, the monks are convinced that the apocalypse is coming. With the Abbey to play host to a council on the Franciscan's Order's belief that the Church should rid itself of wealth, William of Baskerville, a respected Franciscan monk, is asked to assist in determining the cause of the untimely death. Alas, more deaths occur as the investigation draws closer to uncovering the secret the Abbey wants hidden, and there is finally no stopping the Holy Inquisition from taking an active hand in the process. William and his young novice must race against time to prove the innocence of the unjustly accused and avoid the wrath of Holy Inquisitor Bernardo Gui.

Due to the period of the film, swearing does not make up the bulk of the speaking. There is one brief sex scene, and - trust me - fast forwarding through it makes it worse. So if kiddies (or those of a delicate nature, like...your mother) are in the room, just mute the sound and cover their eyes.

I love Sean in this movie; I find that he is most delicious and yummy during the '80's and '90's (see Hunt For Red October). Throw that man in a kilt and give him the phone book to read out loud and I'm melted into a puddle so fast there is a sonic boom.

Erm...yes. Well.

Until tomorrow and the letter "O" - TTFN!