07-25-2004, 08:28 PM
This is an excellent point,<br>
i've recently completed a cover for my shield, and whilst researching have found no evidence for coloured cloth backing, which i suspect is some reenactors guesswork which has been copied so many times that it has become a truism. for my cover, i simply made an applique from darker leather, though in retrospect a dyed piece would have been far more attractive, (this is also suggested by the author of the report on early excavated leather work and shield covers from Vindonissa...) alternatively, as you suggest, the backing may have been dyed, imagine a bright red shield cover....yuk!<br>
<br>
Dont forget that the stitching also adds much to the look and definition of the item, i have reproduced the capricorns from the Roomburg cover, in which much internal detail of the beasties are picked out in stitching.<br>
<br>
I have heard dark rumours of brightly dyed appliques from either Egypt or Syria, though i do not know much more about these... <p></p><i></i>
i've recently completed a cover for my shield, and whilst researching have found no evidence for coloured cloth backing, which i suspect is some reenactors guesswork which has been copied so many times that it has become a truism. for my cover, i simply made an applique from darker leather, though in retrospect a dyed piece would have been far more attractive, (this is also suggested by the author of the report on early excavated leather work and shield covers from Vindonissa...) alternatively, as you suggest, the backing may have been dyed, imagine a bright red shield cover....yuk!<br>
<br>
Dont forget that the stitching also adds much to the look and definition of the item, i have reproduced the capricorns from the Roomburg cover, in which much internal detail of the beasties are picked out in stitching.<br>
<br>
I have heard dark rumours of brightly dyed appliques from either Egypt or Syria, though i do not know much more about these... <p></p><i></i>
