Real Deal Spolas

[Feinman]

I've stopped this project, because I now feel that the spolas was likely made from layers of leather, perhaps water-hardened, instead of oiled and waxed hides..  Rawhide is still too susceptible to moisture, even wrinkling with humidity in the air, though it could be used for scale armour if sealed properly.  I am going to suggest something controversial..  I suspect that the white color seen on what could be spolioi in depictions might actually be lead white ground in oil.  Here's why:  The other white pigments available at the time are too powdery --they would crumble right off the leather, and they don't have the covering power of white lead, as well as being extremely susceptible to moisture.  Painted designs wouldn't adhere properly etc.

Have you thought about baking rawhide to remove excess moisture and then sealing it?

I'm also of the opinion that the pteurges could be made by tablet weave from suitably robust twine and I suspect would hang better...

I think the spolas could be covered with a white leather, tawed and even tanned leather can be naturally white or close to it.

A White Hellenistic shoe from Egypt (allegedly)

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/164463

I still think the rawhide would be too hygroscopic; a little humidity or sweat and it will warp or worse. Alum tawed hides are even more hygroscopic, as alum is excellent at pulling in moisture, and alum tawing creates a very soft product. Apparently the processing of hides in Egypt or certain processes did indeed create a paler hide / leather. I suspect with the decoration on some of them that they were painted, perhaps with a white pigment, though as you say, perhaps it was the processing. I do have a different T & Yoke armour that is twined and is partially done; I suspect that some of the T & Y armours were twined. All speculation until we can find some remains!