Molding leather

[Marcus Mummius]

Does anyone know if it is proven that the Romans used this technique? I know in sculpture we can see things that were potentially made of molded leather but have real pieces of molded leather been found?

I'm still thinking of shield decoration in molded leather and such.

I'm looking for information on how to do it and found quite a bit. Like this very interesting website for example: http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-ca ... er/hl.html

Kind regards,

[Matt Lukes]

There's not really anything to it Jef- thoroughly soak the leather, then stretch it over whatever form you have. More intricate shapes can be made by adding shaped pieces weighted down to make indentations, sharp edges, etc. Given how effectively plastic leather can be, I'd say it's pretty unlikely the Romans didn't do it.

Matt

[Martin Moser]

I'm pretty sure they did it - you use it for some parts when making shoes over a last, e.g.

[Marcus Mummius]

Yes it seems not too difficult to do. Soak, strech over form, pour on very hot water and let dry. By pouring on the almost boiling water you get a much harder end result.

I am wondering though how to make things like the wings on a scutum. What material would you use to make a form for these?

Vale,

[Matt Lukes]

You could use almost anything- wood, fired clay- if you want feathers, etc. it would probably be best to use a two-part form like a mould, but just for pressing. Something porous would be good for absorbing the water and allowing the leather to dry better- it'd still take a lot longer than being exposed directly to air of course.

[tlclark]

We know they used terracotta moulds for lots of things. You might try using a plaster mold as long as it has a waterproof layer.

Also, stretch molds only seem to work if the leather is thin enough to show the detail. Otherwise a press mould is needed, with a positive and an negative mold.

OR... and this is just pure speculation. You might push something into a press mold and hold it in place with something compact and heavy, like lead shot or wet sand, or glass marbles.

I've seen this technique use for all kinds of things but only in modern contexts. Have no idea if the Romans did this.

Good luck and let me know what you find out.

[Graham Sumner]

Travis wrote:

I've seen this technique use for all kinds of things but only in modern contexts. Have no idea if the Romans did this.

Well according to Strong & Bowman, Eds, 'Roman Crafts,' London 1976. they did. In the chapter on Leather, J.W.Waterer conservator from the London Museum of leathercraft refers to the use of moulded leather from late Neolithic times. Unfortunately the only evidence he describes from the Roman period are the moulded shield boss covers from Vindonissa.

Graham.

[tlclark]

Graham,

Oh I'm convinced the Romans used molded leather, I'm just not sure how they did it.

I was specifically wondering if they used weights like sand and marbles to weight the back of the leather into shape.

Does Waterer say anthing about technique?

Travis

[Graham Sumner]

According to Waterer the technique was simple. "...Soaking vegetable tanned leather in cold water until saturated. Then laying it aside until the surplus water had oozed out leaving the leather in a highly plastic condition. It could then be worked by hand, over formers or in moulds , into almost any conceivable shape in which it would 'set' if dried in a moderately warm temperature. The greater the heat the harder it set until eventually it became brittle".

Among the items Waterer lists as being made this way is armour but he is referring to history in general rather than the Roman period in particular. Basically however he is saying that the techniques never changed from when the process was discovered.

Graham.

[Chuck Russell]

yes, you can form wet leather over stakes and in dishing forms teh same as you can metal. once its in teh shape you want, put in teh oven on a low heat to dry. DONT use too hot a water or it will make teh leather burnt and brittle, BOT over heat your over or you'll cook it ehhehe

[Theodosius the Great]

Hi Travis,

Here's the link to that article you posted back a few months ago on how to make your own leather molds : [url:1e15w6bh]http://www.amtgard-eh.com/library/howtocuir.html[/url]

I started to make my own pair of lion heads but I never followed up on them.



All I did was soak some scrap leather I had lying around and pressed it onto the mug and let it dry there for a couple of days. It holds its shape but its pretty soft. Maybe I should pour some hot water over it as some people here have suggested.

These lion heads were intended for my officer boots like the ones in this picture :

[tlclark]

Theodosius

I won't ask why you have pink leather lying around :wink:

But it looks great! What weight is the leather?

Still haven't got the courage to cut up the leather I've got and try this.

Well, time and money would help too.

Keep us posted.

Travis

[Theodosius the Great]

Theodosius

I won't ask why you have pink leather lying around :wink:

But it looks great! What weight is the leather?

Still haven't got the courage to cut up the leather I've got and try this.

Well, time and money would help too.

Keep us posted.

Travis

:lol: Thanks. I only applied the first coat of dye. Two or three more coatings will darken it. The leather itself is 2-3 oz pigskin.

[tlclark]

So 2-3 oz takes detail very well it seems, in either drape or press molds I imagine.

That's fine for tongue pteruges and boots, but I think the cuirass would have to be heftier.

perhaps the cuirass is heavier and uses a push mold.

I would like to see how 7/8 oz leather works in a push mold.

Anydoby know?

Travis