06-13-2010, 08:38 AM
Am reading through the superb Carlisle Millenium project (Vol 2- the Finds), which also has a DVD with Vols 1, 2, and 3 on it- very good value at £25. Seriously recommended- scale armour, early Newstead lorica fragments, a lorica breastplate with a bolt hole in it, manicae ( I need to revise my article), leather saddle covers, part of a wooden saddle frame, a decorated spear head, etc. etc.
This thread aims to focus on the discovery that on some fragments of a lorica find, the conservation works indicates that these may have been painted black. The article is from page 687 of the book, written by our Mike Bishop and C Howard-Davis.
"a few fragments where conservation seems to suggest that some of the armour could have been painted black."
In the opening section, page 496 (author unstated) :-
"most of the plate armour is of the Corbridge type, characteristic of the mid-first to mid-second century AD, or the Newstead type, characteristic of the mid-second to mid-third century. Made from hammered or rolled iron sheet, it would have originally been silvery grey in appearance, but would presumably have changed its colour through time, and depending on circumstance, could have been a range of colours from a metalllic grey to rust red. Copper alloy fittings would, of course, originally have been pinkish or brassy in colour, but would have dulled and in their most neglected state become green. Conservation has suggested that some fragments of armour were painted black which adds a new element to their appearance; it might simply have stopped it from rusting, but also raises the possibility that there were times when it was not prudent to stand out in the landscape."
I was lucky enough to have a tour round the Royal Armouries last month with the Academic Director (nice bloke and very knowledgeable). We discussed blueing and blackening armour. The RA collection is more medieval and later, but he showed me several pieces of black painted armour- for example from Germany where black and white armour was used for decoration. Piece below not from the Royal Armouries, but as an illustration.
http://www.livesteelarmor.com/hm/bwamr.html
We also discussed forge blackened and blued armour. Forge blackened armour was often used where you needed to kit troops out quickly and the examples we looked at showed the hammer marks clearly still there- ie not polished out. It was also a good rust inhibitor and often seen in paintings of the time, especially of the common man in armour.
Blued armour he saw in medieval times as being more decorative and less effective against rust- often used with decorative inlays.
I am very sensitive to the danger of taking a medieval view and putting it back in time to Roman times- but there may be some useful insights there.
A thought- when you are on the edge of Empire in a wet, cold, north west province, you are more likely to be able to customise your kit to local conditions and get away without it being as shiny as a Rome-based Praetorian might want it back at "head office". You see the same things in Afghanistan today. And black painted lorica would contrast well with the copper alloy fittings and edgings. And only some of the finds from Carlisle indicate black painting- not all.
Oh, and another thing. The copper alloy binding of an Imperial Gallic / Italic helmet cheekpiece was found. Nothing too unusual there- except that "interestingly, conservation suggests that it bound leather rather than iron"......
This thread aims to focus on the discovery that on some fragments of a lorica find, the conservation works indicates that these may have been painted black. The article is from page 687 of the book, written by our Mike Bishop and C Howard-Davis.
"a few fragments where conservation seems to suggest that some of the armour could have been painted black."
In the opening section, page 496 (author unstated) :-
"most of the plate armour is of the Corbridge type, characteristic of the mid-first to mid-second century AD, or the Newstead type, characteristic of the mid-second to mid-third century. Made from hammered or rolled iron sheet, it would have originally been silvery grey in appearance, but would presumably have changed its colour through time, and depending on circumstance, could have been a range of colours from a metalllic grey to rust red. Copper alloy fittings would, of course, originally have been pinkish or brassy in colour, but would have dulled and in their most neglected state become green. Conservation has suggested that some fragments of armour were painted black which adds a new element to their appearance; it might simply have stopped it from rusting, but also raises the possibility that there were times when it was not prudent to stand out in the landscape."
I was lucky enough to have a tour round the Royal Armouries last month with the Academic Director (nice bloke and very knowledgeable). We discussed blueing and blackening armour. The RA collection is more medieval and later, but he showed me several pieces of black painted armour- for example from Germany where black and white armour was used for decoration. Piece below not from the Royal Armouries, but as an illustration.
http://www.livesteelarmor.com/hm/bwamr.html
We also discussed forge blackened and blued armour. Forge blackened armour was often used where you needed to kit troops out quickly and the examples we looked at showed the hammer marks clearly still there- ie not polished out. It was also a good rust inhibitor and often seen in paintings of the time, especially of the common man in armour.
Blued armour he saw in medieval times as being more decorative and less effective against rust- often used with decorative inlays.
I am very sensitive to the danger of taking a medieval view and putting it back in time to Roman times- but there may be some useful insights there.
A thought- when you are on the edge of Empire in a wet, cold, north west province, you are more likely to be able to customise your kit to local conditions and get away without it being as shiny as a Rome-based Praetorian might want it back at "head office". You see the same things in Afghanistan today. And black painted lorica would contrast well with the copper alloy fittings and edgings. And only some of the finds from Carlisle indicate black painting- not all.
Oh, and another thing. The copper alloy binding of an Imperial Gallic / Italic helmet cheekpiece was found. Nothing too unusual there- except that "interestingly, conservation suggests that it bound leather rather than iron"......