Chiton Pins

[Johnny Shumate]

How was the chiton pinned at the shoulders? I need some photos of the pins/clips that held the chiton together.
Thanks,
Johnny

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Some appear to be sewn.Some others seem to be pinned,with the pin somehow covered by the fabric,the back part overlaping the frontal part of the shoulder area.More rarely,we see button-like pins.Very small plain buttons.In other discussions people have told me that buttons are not accurate for a reconstruction,but I don't see the reason.
Khaire
Giannis

[Tim Mathews]

What do these buttons look like? Would there be one or more on each shoulder? I would suggest bone for a material?

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Buttons have not been found or at least identified as so. Several fittings are displayed in different museums but they say they are decorative pieces for the funerary clothes. i agree most of them are,as they are often coloured glass or stones. These buttons could have been bone,as bone was used for pins,as well as bronze. Female chitons were pinned all the way from shoulders to the hand. Male ones have either one button in each shoulder either more (3). Using more buttons in a sleeveless chiton you make a covering for the shoulder and produce a fake sleeve.
Khaire
Giannis

[hoplite14gr]

In the "Perseus Project" image base there are a few clothes pins of the Classical era.
In the Museums they are examples ranging from "nail-like" to elaborate brouches.

Kind regards

[PMBardunias]

Hey Johnny,

I have an old paper that might be useful:

Buttons and Their Use on Greek Garments
KMK Elderkin - American Journal of Archaeology, 1928

I'll send it tomorrow.

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Paul, do I have it? I'm in Alexandroupoli and I can't check now.

[PMBardunias]

Paul, do I have it?

I'm not sure. I think I found it recently, but I find and forget them so often that you might. I'll resend.

[PMBardunias]

The poor man's fibula

[PMBardunias]

Greek 4th century BC