Roman Metal Armour-Polished or Dull?

[Tarbicus]

We've been over the arguments about browning, bluing, or blackening before, and the trouble is that ALL the evidence simply points to shiny metal. You just don't describe something glisteny-brown with the same words you'd use to describe stars or gems or jewelry. Nor do you depict such armor with white or silvery-gray paint.

Where's this painting of a seg, and I don't think we ever discussed using linseed oil to give a glass like finish (thinking of the Sun reflected in a dark window)?

Limewash was used in medieval times to scrub and cleanse kitchens, and we know the Romans used limewash for finishing buildings (as did the Medievals) which would have had tallow, linseed oil or cassein mixed in to increase water resistance. Anyone know if scrubbing metal with limewash polishes it up?
http://www.openairclassroom.org.uk/Furt ... n-lime.pdf