late roman vexila/um

[Marcus Julius]

I just thought of something else what should I use for the fringe at the bottom? Can this be bought like this.

For linen or wool, atleast, start removing the horizontal woven threads out of the fabric's weave. until you have liberated about 2" or so of the threads hanging down (depending on the size of your vexillum, and just how much fringe you want). Once you have the loose threads, starting at one end gather them to the size of fringe 'clumps' that you want, split that in half and tie them together up tight against the intact weave.
A couple of notes:
I have not tried this on silk, and don't know if it will work the same.
More layers of fabric in your vexillum will result in a heavier piece less susceptable to wind effects, and also give a thicker fringe.
I've feel that doing the fraying before sewing the layers together makes it a lot easier to get the fringe lined up evenly to the final pattern.

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

So I should take a large piece of material and fold it over and run a seem down the sides leaving space for a dowel or piece of rope on the top?

Since I would be using the fabric to make the fringe should this then be painted yellow/gold?

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

No joy again on red 100% linen so I bought some off white and red rit dye. I have a yard of the stuff hanging to dry. I run it through the wash and dry cycle tomorrow and star working on the artwork.

[M. Demetrius]

Sometimes if you air dry it, then send it through the dryer first, it will help set the dye. Then you should probably rinse in cold water and machine dry again. Bright colors of RIT tend to bleed, but you aren't going to be wearing it, so it should be fine.

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

Sometimes if you air dry it, then send it through the dryer first, it will help set the dye. Then you should probably rinse in cold water and machine dry again. Bright colors of RIT tend to bleed, but you aren't going to be wearing it, so it should be fine.

I was too impatient to let it drip dry so I ironed it last night. Here's the first application of gold paint...

[M. Demetrius]

Nice work! How are you going to hang it? From loops? with a casing around a crossbar?

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

Nice work! How are you going to hang it? From loops? with a casing around a crossbar?

I have to sew the sides and sew the loops on the top as well as add the fringe which I haven't decided on yet. I also have to add the alpha and omega symbols. I should be able to run a dowel through the middle and suspend it with some small line on a spear.

This is the easy one, I have to work on the portrait vexilla too.

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

Here's my rendition of the portrait vex.

[Theodosius the Great]

Hey, that's VERY nice, Cicero !

I see you used the mosaic as a model 8)

May I ask what colors you used for the hair and sagum ? The light sometimes plays tricks with color in photography (especially with photos taken indoors).

~Theo

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

I simplified the design and only used a portrait style as the rest of the detail would be lost due to size of the vexilla. I need to add some finishing touches on this.

I actually mixed black white and blue together for his hair but need to add some black textural striping. The sagum is just a creamacoat mediteranean blue.

[Theodosius the Great]

I simplified the design and only used a portrait style as the rest of the detail would be lost due to size of the vexilla.

The detail level looks very good because it gives the standard a more military look. The Emperor's standard would have a more gaudy appearance, I'm sure.

Many of the spears which held the vexilla were capped with a gold wreath which contained the chi-ro symbol.

I need to add some finishing touches on this.

If this were my creation I'd add a little more detail to the fibula. The one on the Christ mosaic is identical to the one of Justinian from over 100 years later. It's an important symbol of rank after the diadem (which doesn't appear in this case).



~Theo

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

The detail level looks very good because it gives the standard a more military look. The Emperor's standard would have a more gaudy appearance, I'm sure.

I figure from a distance this will look the same as if it had more detail in it.

Many of the spears which held the vexilla were capped with a gold wreath which contained the chi-ro symbol.

Thanks for that. Now I have to figure out how to make one of those. What discovery show is this pic from?

If this were my creation I'd add a little more detail to the fibula. The one on the Christ mosaic is identical to the one of from over 100 years later. It's an important symbol of rank after the diadem (which doesn't appear in this case).

I was thinking about adding some colors to the fibula to make it more "guady" as well. I need to get some red for that.

[Theodosius the Great]

Thanks for that. Now I have to figure out how to make one of those.

I'd check out eBay to see if there's one already available. If not, then I'm sure you can find a brass wreath and maybe you can make the letters yourself or find them separately.

What discovery show is this pic from?

Oh, you have to see this series ! It's called 'Battle for Rome' and it is basically a docu-drama about the rise and fall of the Empire. It has six episodes which focus on individuals who changed the course of Roman history : Gracchus, Julius Caesar, Nero, Vespasian, Constantine, and Honorius. The series uses British actors, has a lot of battle scenes, and uses new props and clothing with a higher degree of accuracy than seen on previous documentaries.

It was aired on television over a year ago on both the Discovery and Military Channels. The latter just recently re-aired it.

Anyway, you can read the thread on it and see more of my screen shots (on pages 4 & 5) here :
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0

I was thinking about adding some colors to the fibula to make it more "guady" as well. I need to get some red for that.

:lol: Well, when I said 'gaudy' I was thinking the emperor would have gem stones or gold work on his official standard. Kinda like the Late Roman shield we see in the Justinian mosaic. Such creations seem more ceremonial than functional :roll: No wonder Constantine selected 50 of his men to guard it at all times !

~Theo

[Lvcivs Commodvs Cicero]

I'd check out eBay to see if there's one already available. If not, then I'm sure you can find a brass wreath and maybe you can make the letters yourself or find them separately.

No joy on ebay. I can make the chi rho out of wood no problem it will be the wreath that'll give me headaches.

Oh, you have to see this series ! It's called 'Battle for Rome' and it is basically a docu-drama about the rise and fall of the Empire

I may have to see if I can get that on DVD.

:lol: Well, when I said 'gaudy' I was thinking the emperor would have gem stones or gold work on his official standard. Kinda like the Late Roman shield we see in the Justinian mosaic. Such creations seem more ceremonial than functional :roll: No wonder Constantine selected 50 of his men to guard it at all times !

Is a labrum supposed to be that Ginormous? That thing is H U G E and poorly painted by the way hock: I guess I could glue some glass gems on a flag but then I think I would have to also secure them with some gold thread. Of course I would probably plan the layout of the flag based on the gems. :woot:

[Theodosius the Great]

No joy on ebay. I can make the chi rho out of wood no problem it will be the wreath that'll give me headaches.

Depending on how large you want to make yours, this item might be usable. It's about 3 inches in diameter. You can easily dremel the top part off and the butterfly shouldn't be too difficult to dislodge either. I use one of these on my LR baldric (mine has an eagle).

Or any of these may offer some possibilities. Bracelets and full sized crowns. I have a metalic laurel wreath that I bought for my helmet. It was a single piece which I cut in two pieces and could then bend into whatever shape I wanted.

Here are two pictures : wreath 1 and wreath 2

I may have to see if I can get that on DVD.

Or keep a look out on when they'll replay it. I recorded them all.

Is a labrum supposed to be that Ginormous?

I haven't a clue but I get the feeling that Constantine's was special. He used it to help inspire his multi-faith army to victory throughout his long reign. Here is a coin showing two labra.

I guess I could glue some glass gems on a flag but then I think I would have to also secure them with some gold thread.

Maybe placing some gems over the letters would look neat. Securing them to the linen though does seem problematic. If I come up with another solution I'll let you know.

~Theo