tinned segmentata - any evidence?

[Matthew Amt]

Blackening is a great idea for the INside of armor or a helmet, which originally would simply be left black from the forging process. But there is NO evidence for the OUTside of armor or helmets ever being black or blued. Frescoes and mosaics show armor as silver/white or yellow/gold, there are numerous references to shining or bright armor, and many helmets and other objects were tinned or silvered. Shiny is the way to go. The same for scabbards!

Seems to me that on any spot on a lorica which is rubbing or chafing enough to rub the tinning off, that same rubbing or chafing would also prevent that spot from rusting.

Valete,

Matthew