Cuffs on Viking era tunics

Ismaels-Legacy · Post by **Ismaels-Legacy** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:20 pm

For a generic Viking era tunic, what would be appropriate for the cuffs? I've seen several different reports ranging from silk brocade to un-hemmed, unadorned ends. From what I've seen, though, it doesn't seem like separate cuffs (Such as leather cuffs) were really used. I'm assuming that's an anachronism from the film industry?

So, for a general tunic for viking person, what are my best options for Cuffs?

Fearghus Macildubh · Post by **Fearghus Macildubh** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:49 pm

Leather cuffs and the ubiquitous bracers are indeed Hollywoodisms. The answer depends on how wealthy a portrayal you are presenting. A simple farmer or freeman would have plain hemmed sleeves. Maybe some tablet or inkle woven trim if he were a prosperous farmer. A person with a big farm would have trim, being wealthier and wanting to show it. Another option would be embroidery, as shown here:
http://www.viking-resources.co.uk/sauce ... oidery.php

Guran · Post by **Guran** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:35 pm

Ceadda · Post by **Ceadda** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:07 am

and silk would indeed be used for the wealthiest among them. Though 'brocade' probably isnt right.

Snaebjorn Hakonarson · Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:57 am

One of my undertunics as a set of embroidered silk cuffs that were attached to it. Since the undertunic's sleeves extend farther than the cuffs of the overtunic I decided to add the cuffs there. (This is something I found on several sites such as Viking Answer Lady and Thora Sharptooth's page. I also found it on a few other sites but I can't remember all of them. This is the third computer since I found it so I don't have the links anymore.)

Of course my portrayal is supposed to be a wealthier man in the slave trade so what I do isn't going to appropriate for a common farmer.

Norman · Post by **Norman** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:55 am

In Russia
(as you may know, the Russian ethnicity is a mix of "Viking" with the local Slav and Turk)
it was imperative to embroider all openings (cuffs, neck, bottom) because otherwise spirits could enter the garment and attack the wearer.
The embroidery around the openings is therefore called "oberegi" (guards or protectors)
The lowliest of the low would therefore have a simple line of embroidery (florals, waves, or geometric shapes) in red thread around all openings of his shirt.

You may want to do the research to see if these beliefs existed among the people who did not move to the Eastern colonies.