Roman Shoe Reconstructions

[Crispianus]

LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS pid='333092' dateline='1449604946']

First attemp on late roman shoes: the low Ham boot or campagus (UK). There are made in calf leather undyed and with a thickness of 2 mm aprox. I haven't add outsoles, but sometimes campagi have it. The stitchings are made with an awl one by one, because if you make the holes before it's difficult to align. Next time probably try to do Deurne campagi.

I think you have a problem with the heel, did you follow the pattern? as it shows a curved heel section* in the wrong direction, this should be straight or curved slightly in the opposite direction, stitching should be on the inside essentially its a turn shoe.
The quarters should be I think longer with the decorative cut outs more on the side of the foot.
I suggest being cautious of copying patterns directly as often their either faulty or distorted in some fashion.

When I stitch pieces like this where theres a difference in the lengths of the edges to be joined in a seam, I temporarily stitch it with a single stitch at key points and then mark  out and put in the holes...
Its difficult to explain without images !...

* here I'm looking at C. van Driel Murrays article "A Mirror of Fashion and Society" 1987.

The original Low Ham shoe is only 12cm long or so and likely for a baby, according to my notes its a Well find and was or is in the Clarks shoe Museum.

Another similar shoe of the same size comes from Luxemburg as well as a similar carbatina in size 4-5 from Vindolanda, larger nailed sole varietys come from York and Gloucester.

York: a small shoe of calcei construction 16cm long.

   

Gloucester, about 21cm long.

   

Gloucester Reconstruction:

   

Vindolanda Carbatina 20-22cm long.

   


Hope this is some help