3rd Century Roman Ivory Ring-Buckle Belt Reconstruction

[caiusbeerquitius]

Thanks, guys

Martin, that is oil and cinnobre - paste rubbed in several layers into the leather. Then fixed with olive oil, dried, olive oil, dried etc...
In that sense, the leather is rather painted, not died. Like those fat-based leather paints from the skythian graves in the Altai.
The colour looks smoother oand more homogenous on the pics, as it actually is.

.kremer-pigmente.de/shopint/index.php?cat=0102&product=10620

There is a oil dye for leather on the market which is basically the same, but contains turpentine or something like that as well ( one of those headache-substances). Works pretty well, and seems to be apart from the pigments all from stuff the Romans had access to - I heard. I am not so sure, though. It is easily and quickly applied, and much less annoying than the rubbing. I dyed a scabbrad for a friend with this stuff, and it turned out quite nice. I first tried this out for the belt, and had rings and rims of darker colour everywhere which then faded after a while. Looked nice, but died in the skiving machine. Then I made this one.
The linen thread is dyed by hand with indigo, prepared with alum