08-13-2003, 03:29 PM
Avete omnes....<br>
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Actually, most medieval armors were originally painted... Victorian collectors thought that was wrong, that the references to their ancestors wearing "gleaming armors" meant that everything was polished to within inches of it's demise Surface analysis of armors that were not subjected to that type of "restoration shows evidence of quite a bit of painting on them, and bright and shiny colors at that.<br>
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As far as looks go, I have seen a forge-blued segmentata done by a chap out of Colorado (who was with us at the testudo shoot for the History Channel's "The Most" episode) that looked quite impressive, even a bit menacing. The hinges on his seg were very well set off by the bluing, and all it required was a light coat of oil (try almond oil, olive oil will get very rancid and damage your leather REAL quick). As we really don't have much in the way of a complete umblemished armor this may be a good interpretation of the historical evidence. Also, if memory serves, the Kalkriese segmental bits had traces of tinning - the Roman equivalent of chroming!<br>
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Hey, that's an idea - nice Corbridge A, tinned, with brass edging (nah, the contubernales would think I'm a praetorian and knock me over for my milk money)<br>
<br>
Well, that's my two sestercii!<br>
<br>
Optime vale in pace Deorum,<br>
<br>
Marius Cornelius Scipio<br>
LEG IX HSP COH III EXPG CEN I HIB <p></p><i></i>
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Actually, most medieval armors were originally painted... Victorian collectors thought that was wrong, that the references to their ancestors wearing "gleaming armors" meant that everything was polished to within inches of it's demise Surface analysis of armors that were not subjected to that type of "restoration shows evidence of quite a bit of painting on them, and bright and shiny colors at that.<br>
<br>
As far as looks go, I have seen a forge-blued segmentata done by a chap out of Colorado (who was with us at the testudo shoot for the History Channel's "The Most" episode) that looked quite impressive, even a bit menacing. The hinges on his seg were very well set off by the bluing, and all it required was a light coat of oil (try almond oil, olive oil will get very rancid and damage your leather REAL quick). As we really don't have much in the way of a complete umblemished armor this may be a good interpretation of the historical evidence. Also, if memory serves, the Kalkriese segmental bits had traces of tinning - the Roman equivalent of chroming!<br>
<br>
Hey, that's an idea - nice Corbridge A, tinned, with brass edging (nah, the contubernales would think I'm a praetorian and knock me over for my milk money)<br>
<br>
Well, that's my two sestercii!<br>
<br>
Optime vale in pace Deorum,<br>
<br>
Marius Cornelius Scipio<br>
LEG IX HSP COH III EXPG CEN I HIB <p></p><i></i>
