Big 4th century tunic project

[M. Val. Naso]

Hi there!

In our group, a few of us are going to make new, customised tunics (not flames and neonlighting, but in size and clavi/orbiculi ). I've read through RAT's every little tidbit about tunics, but there are still a few questions, in which I need your opinions. I will highlight these.


So, to begin, fabric: we've found very nice 100% linen and wool also. We need strong materials (as we frequently take place in battles, where we get pulled with a rope by horses for example), but still light, so it won't be a sauna in the summer (this one was especially hot, imagine me in helm/musculata/subarmalis out in the sun with like 40°C). I personally prefer a linen cloth I've found, it's 240 cm across, so I can make the tunic from one piece. But one thing remains: are the fabric's looks important? I mean if we look closely, on some fabrics we see, that it has a crude, archaic pattern, on some you see the modern technology's hand.

Colour: I've seen nice red and green tunics on mosaics, and I also like a bleached white with red fittings. I have two questions: Do red and green base colours make nice tunics? Also is bleached white acceptable for a centurion in the late 4th century? I've read bleached white was a Scholae Palatinae thing then.

Fittings: We have collected an enormous amount of clavi and orbiculi. For practical purposes, we would put the embroidery on a piece of wool, (or felt?), than sew this thing onto the tunic. So the backside will be protected, and it will be nicer I think. Is this acceptable by western reenactment standards?


Thanks for your opinions, hope to get back to you in the fall, when we actually do this.


Mark

[jvrjenivs]

For practical purposes, we would put the embroidery on a piece of wool, (or felt?), than sew this thing onto the tunic. So the backside will be protected, and it will be nicer I think. Is this acceptable by western reenactment standards?

Well, the romans themselve seems to have been re-using their clavi and orbiculli themselves (e.g. took them from their old tunic an stiched them on a new one), so why not?

[Virilis]

Hi Mark!

Check out the Piazza Armerina mosaics, there you can find green, red, yellow, off-white tunics etc.

[Ammianus]

As Virilis mentioned, the Piazza Armerina mosaics:

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[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Look forward to seeing the end results!

[M. Val. Naso]

Thanks for the fashion tips I'm between red base and white base with red orbi. I wanna look good in my musculata, also there is a little voice in the back of my head, that I wanna be THE PIMP of every event

[Robert Vermaat]

Thanks for the fashion tips I'm between red base and white base with red orbi. I wanna look good in my musculata, also there is a little voice in the back of my head, that I wanna be THE PIMP of every event

Thumbs up for your efforts!
If you're gooing to do battle in such a tunic, take care not to make it too beautiful. especially whn white, stains could ruin te look. Myself (and others I know) have a tunic to wear under the armour, and a 'deluxe' model for the off-duty.

[Statius]

Thanks for the fashion tips I'm between red base and white base with red orbi. I wanna look good in my musculata, also there is a little voice in the back of my head, that I wanna be THE PIMP of every event

Thumbs up for your efforts!
If you're gooing to do battle in such a tunic, take care not to make it too beautiful. especially whn white, stains could ruin te look. Myself (and others I know) have a tunic to wear under the armour, and a 'deluxe' model for the off-duty.

Very sound advice!

[Iagoba]

If you're gooing to do battle in such a tunic, take care not to make it too beautiful. especially whn white, stains could ruin te look. Myself (and others I know) have a tunic to wear under the armour, and a 'deluxe' model for the off-duty.

And not only for battles, sometimes you will have to work, dig, or start a fire...a simpler, easier and cheaper one with "solid" clavi et orbiculi it's perfect.

[Flavivs Aetivs]

Interesting, I notice the Illyrian Auxilia and Valeria Victrix on the Mosaics.

Would white with Yellow Be an acceptable pattern? I was gonna use Solid Designs (rather than the fancy decorative ones) and hand-stitch it.

[M. Val. Naso]

I've thought about that. I would use a red tunic from linen for fighting, and the white woolen for parading and just everydays. Also, I would'nt really have to worry about physical work: that's what my men are for Being a centurion is quite relaxing, except when you have to react to a sudden cuneus from 4th century longobards swinging iron-axes and ramming through us like armour piercing arrow in a hamata.

Now that is hell on earth for me

PS. I'm planning to make photos of dents in our 1.5mm iron helmets to show you how we roll