Late Roman tunic (Clavi)

[Peroni]

I'm due to make a late Roman tunic for next season, and was wondering if this commercially available trim would be a suitable, or an acceptable substitute for woven-in clavi?

If not, then plain coloured fabric clavi it will have to be!

[aitor iriarte]

Adrian,

At first sight, it looks acceptable, though it has perhaps a 'too late/post-muslim conquest' look... :?
If you decide to use it, I suggest to cut the trim this way:

So, a nice 'teardrop' will form (again a late feature), though you could just end the clavus in a point. never straigth!

Aitor

[Peroni]

Thanks Aitor!

I tried my hardest to find a trim that was somewhere close to the V&A Museum examples, but this was the nearest I could find!

[Susanna]

Here is the shop I order clavi:

http://www.saris-borten.de

he has clavi for indian saris, but I also often cut pieces out etc.
And they have it made from silk and gold, too, for to show of high-class Romans. :wink:

[Graham Sumner]

I'm due to make a late Roman tunic for next season, and was wondering if this commercially available trim would be a suitable, or an acceptable substitute for woven-in clavi?

If not, then plain coloured fabric clavi it will have to be!

No Adrian. In my opinion Aitor's example of copying original designs on to his tunic is a much much better way than using unauthentic examples. Even close up it is pretty difficult to tell that his designs are not woven into his tunic and now they are beginning to fade they look even better.

There are a number of books or even websites which show authentic designs.

Perhaps Aitor should give us all a tutorial on how he did it.

Graham.

[Robert Vermaat]

There are a number of books or even websites which show authentic designs.

Hi Graham,

Could you tell us a few (websites)? I'm still looking for good clavi designs.

[aitor iriarte]

Graham, its very kind of you! :oops:
Notwithstanding, my system is very limited, as it only works on cotton, maybe linen but never on wool!
When my group people decided to make their woollen tunics, they had to resort to commercial trims. No need to say that you cannot find anything near enough to real clavi (and, of course, that does not solve the problem of getting the orbiculi! wink:

About clavi designs. You must take into account that those highly figured ones that we have in mind are commonly no earlier than 6th century, earlier (4th, 5th) ones being mainly geommetric, white on purple background.

Aitor

PS Graham, I received 'Clothing Culture' and it is a very good book. I commend it to anybody interested on Late clothing (Too much post-Muslim Conquest stuff but that is unavoidable :roll: )

[Peroni]

Aitor's example of copying original designs on to his tunic is a much much better way than using unauthentic examples.

If only I had the time! It will be under armour, so the only visible sections will be the cuffs and bottom edges. I may have to compromise! :?

[Robert Vermaat]

Aitor's example of copying original designs on to his tunic is a much much better way than using unauthentic examples.

If only I had the time! It will be under armour, so the only visible sections will be the cuffs and bottom edges.

You never walk about in civvies?

[Peroni]

Nah! I like to be in armour!

only after an event do I change into civvies!

[Robert Vermaat]

Too bad! As a Late Roman, that's the time to show off you tunic. :wink:

[Graham Sumner]

Hi Robert

Hi Graham,

Could you tell us a few (websites)? I'm still looking for good clavi designs.

I just did a Google search for Coptic Textiles. That produced a few sites and Museums which have collections which could be contacted for further information. However I would reccomend getting either J.Trilling's book 'The Roman Heritage' or D. Carrol's 'Looms and Textiles of the Copts'. Also keep an eye out for Coptic Textile exhibitions or their catalogues or contact local Museums who have collections of Coptic textiles often in storage. There is an Aladdin's cave of Coptic Textiles in Antwerp in a Private collection but it is possible to make appointments to see the collection.

I found this after a quick search which might help.

On June 23 the tunic gallery of ancient textiles from Katoen Natie in
Antwerp (Belgium) will open. About 20 tunics from Egypt, mostly from the
late Roman and early Islamic periods will be shown.

There are also several caps, shoes, sandals, a pair of Roman socks, hair
combs, jewellery , a Fayum portrait and Greco-Roman sculpture.

In this gallery no less than 30 pieces have been radiocarbon dated.

The gallery will be open from Monday to Friday but only by appointment with
Caroline Dekyndt (tel +3232216904)

Four more galleries are planned.

Address: Katoen Natie, Van Aerdstraat 33 , 2060 Antwerp, Belgium.

Graham.

[Robert Vermaat]

Thanks Graham!

Antwerp is not exactly the next town, but close enough to organise a trip!

[aitor iriarte]

Get your spy camera sharp, Robert! 8)

Aitor

[Chariovalda]

Well, we could ask nicely... 8)

My camera's better, unless Robert gets himself a new one... :roll:

Should be doable, hey how about it Robert?

And then...off to get embroiderer's cramp (me presumably) or the printshop (probably Robert's preferred solution). :wink: