Tube and Yoke -How \"white\" was white?

[John Conyard]

The tube and yoke could be made in bright colours, but it is certain a good number were made in white.

But just how white was white?

I am attaching a photo of a roe deerskin which has been traditionally alum tanned, set against some pretty standard vegetable tanned leather, two samples of vegetable tanned leather made using alum, and a sheet of white paper.


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I am tempted to make a new tube and yoke in vegetable tanned leather whitened using alum. But the white colour is more of a dirty grey.

And it is very hard to harden this leather in to armour, or at least I haven't managed it yet! I can make the armour from several thicknesses of leather, but hardening helps it's defensive qualities. At least wetting the leather does not wash out the alum. So far.........