07-06-2012, 05:55 PM
The depictions of Byzantine kremasmata (skirt defenses) have interested me for some time the following 12th century steatite icon is particularly illuminating:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Byzant..._41205.jpg
St. George wears a klivanion and kremasmata. The detailling is excellent. I know that Dawson has often interpreted such vertical banding patterns as depicting the stitching on quilted textile. However, here rivet heads are, I think, shown fairly unequivocally. Quilted textile on its own has no need of rivets. Either metal splints, each attached to a backing by a rivet, and below the rivet a single lacing point, or alternatively a brigandine-like arrangement of metal splints between two layers of textile, held together by rivets and stitching, are being depicted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Byzant..._41205.jpg
St. George wears a klivanion and kremasmata. The detailling is excellent. I know that Dawson has often interpreted such vertical banding patterns as depicting the stitching on quilted textile. However, here rivet heads are, I think, shown fairly unequivocally. Quilted textile on its own has no need of rivets. Either metal splints, each attached to a backing by a rivet, and below the rivet a single lacing point, or alternatively a brigandine-like arrangement of metal splints between two layers of textile, held together by rivets and stitching, are being depicted.
Martin
Fac me cocleario vomere!
Fac me cocleario vomere!
