01-18-2021, 01:44 AM
(01-17-2021, 04:39 PM)Dan D\Silva Wrote: Point taken, but I'm neither in a position to attend reenactment events where I might use a shield more often than every few years, nor repair it if it's heavily damaged when it is used. So I would prefer not to find when I do have the opportunity to take it out that the facing is disintegrating, which would necessitate an almost total rebuild.
If there is no period-appropriate solution, then I might size it with waterproof wood glue.
Mostly the Roman Dura oval shields were primed with gesso directly on the wood, the rectangular shield is encaustic wax applied to skin, I think I might be right in saying that the persian gilded wooden scabbards were also prepared with gesso... the only painted shields I've actually seen in the flesh were from Illerup and painted directly on the wood.
Anyway I doubt it would be a problem canvasses have to survive for a long time I expect its not likely to fall apart very quickly if you use linseed oil direct...
For my combat shields I used thinned PVA worked fine...
Ivor
"And the four bare walls stand on the seashore. a wreck a skeleton a monument of that instability and vicissitude to which all things human are subject. Not a dwelling within sight, and the farm labourer, and curious traveller, are the only persons that ever visit the scene where once so many thousands were congregated." T.Lewin 1867
"And the four bare walls stand on the seashore. a wreck a skeleton a monument of that instability and vicissitude to which all things human are subject. Not a dwelling within sight, and the farm labourer, and curious traveller, are the only persons that ever visit the scene where once so many thousands were congregated." T.Lewin 1867
