This is the Phalera Deepeeka is been working on. I look forward to getting your comments.
Please note, we have used a screw system on the leather, to make it easier to remove and shine the pieces. It is also easy to change the design, in accordance to your liking.
The torcs you have positioned above the phalerae look rather too large. Contemporary depictions of torcs awarded in pairs and worn like that on a strap around the neck consistently show them to be nearer the size which would fit around a wrist than around a neck. Remember that they are in effect military medals, not pieces of barbarian finery intended to be worn as neck rings.
On the matter of the attachment of the phalerae, would it not be possible to braise 'U' shaped pieces to the backs of the disks, which could pass through slots or cuts in the straps and then be secured by split rings? This would solve any problems which might be caused by screw threads becoming worn and would be closer to what the Romans themselves did. I assume that the screw posts are braised on so I doubt that 'U' shaped pieces would be much more trouble to do.
As for the straps themselves, I would suggest that the lower horizontal strap should extend around the body to be secured at the wearer's back as well as or instead of the central horizontal strap, as the three lower palerae hanging 'loose' like that looks a little odd to my eyes.
Crispvs
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
Crispvs.
At page one I have shown Gagan exactly how the Lauersfort were held to the harness by rings that took split pins, and here is a picture that agrees with your comments on the lower set pieces. This is where there are three straps going around the rear with buckles one at the shoulders the others, one above the waist the other at hip level just below as shown. These are a set that I made years ago for the late Doug' Arnold and where he had a fifty plus chest measurement they could also fit even a smaller chest due to the adjustments on the buckle straps at the rear and the lower buckle sits just below the waist level. Then the rams head torcs in contrast to those of Gagan are smaller at around 4 inch diameter and not those that would fit around a neck.
[attachment=11491]phalerae1_2015-01-09.jpg[/attachment]
Gagan.
To fit the tabs into the leather you are going to have to make the straps wider so that you can cut small slots in them to push your tabs through, then when you put the small split pins through the tab holes you only just spread the legs of the pin so that they can be got at with a pair of pliers to nip them closed to take out and the phalerae can be removed for cleaning.
Gagan.
If you look at the picture of the full harness I have shown you will see that this one was done from a complete leather hide with the sections cut out leaving the straps about 1-5 inches wide to give enough width to make slots for my rings to go through the leathers, I do not have a rear view but this harness is held by three straps at the back with buckles, one at the shoulder blades the other two also with buckles, one just above the waist the other below that allows waist belts to be worn for dagger and sword that do not interfere with the phalerae.
Therefore I would say wider not thinner.
Jos.
That is another way of course but to be more authentic these phalerae should be fitted with rings and pins as shown by Maxfield and also how I have been doing them for years now without trouble, the problem with what you mention would create trouble as the eyelet holes in the leather become worn by constant removal for cleaning with the method both Gagan and I now show is more permanent and secure.
Quote:If you look at the picture of the full harness I have shown you will see that this one was done from a complete leather hide with the sections cut out leaving the straps about 1-5 inches wide to give enough width to make slots for my rings to go through the leathers
Isn't this rather wasteful? Presumably, the same result could be achieved by sewing individual straps together, with the phalerae covering the joins.
Incidentally, I note from Maxfield that she suggests that the Newstead phalerae were permanently rivetted to the harness. It would still be possible to clean them, of course, as anyone accustomed to polishing the brasses on British Army webbing can testify.
Michael King Macdona
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
I doubt that the Romans would have been so wasteful as to use a whole section of hide and then cut pieces out as shown in your photo. They certainly used complete sections of hide where they needed to, such as in tents, but we also know that they had a waste-not-want-not mentality which caused them to re-use anything they could under normal circumstances. The Carlisle manicae are a good example of that, but so are the numerous pieces of worn edge pieces of shield covers which had been cut away from the rest of the leather, presumably to use it for something else. With such a mindset, it would make far greater sense to use straps and sew them together where they crossed, as Renatus says, as this would end up wasting far less leather.
"one just above the waist the other below that allows waist belts to be worn for dagger and sword that do not interfere with the phalerae."
I agree with your placement of straps, but it should be noted that the dagger is incorrectly positioned and if worn the way the Romans did (ie without the anacronistic short straps), would be be around three inches higher on the body.
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
