Work in progress... Byzantine Soft Kit #1

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:20 pm

(I hope these pics sizes don't cheeze off JT)

I was sent some pictures of Byzantine/Latin/Roman mosaics by Egforth (gotta love that guy!) a while back, and I decided that I would commission some garb that was based on the artistic stylings of these pieces.

The goal was to be historically correct where possible in the construction, but really try to look like I stepped out of the mosaic (The tablion is blantantly modern, but oddly works very well in reproducing the mosaic tablion).

This is the first one.

It is bassed off of the mosaic of Saint Protasius from St Ambrogio in Milan (constructed in the 10th Cent)

[img]http://hausvdk.com/VDKresearch/Rom-Byz_mosaics/Milan%20Mosaics%20from%20Sant%20Ambrogio/sanamb4.jpg[/img]

What I'm posting is the incomplete version, that I wore to an event recently. It is constructed of all wool (except for the trim) and all hand sewn (except for some of the trouser which was machine sewn due to time). It has strings of freshwater pearls around the cuffs, and lacks MANY more fresh water pearls and precious stones set in cabashons.

[img]http://www.honorblade.com/pics/06Birka-07.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.honorblade.com/pics/06Birka-09.jpg[/img]

look at the legs:

[img]http://www.honorblade.com/pics/06Birka-18.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.honorblade.com/pics/06Birka-23.jpg[/img]

Magdelana von Regansburg is the artisan who did the work. I can not praise her enough for all she's done.

I hope to have completed pictures to you within the season.

Sword · Post by **Sword** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:30 pm

Looks Great!!!

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:31 pm

I should note that this is my cold weather garb, as its mighty toasty in all those layers of wool!

Lucian Ro · Post by **Lucian Ro** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:33 pm

Gorgeous as always, Matty, Conga Rats!

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:41 pm

So, did we do the mosaic justice then?

Looking for the critique peeps! Let me know the good, bad and ugly.

Aonghus · Post by **Aonghus** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:28 pm

Damnit D, you're killing me! :lol:

It looks AWESOME!!! Like you walked off the wall! You should do one of those "underwear" up pic series so we can see all the different parts of the kit.

Hew · Post by **Hew** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:37 pm

Getting there. Verra nice!

Is that an ornate fibula on your right shoulder? Looks impressive, from what I can see in the photo.

What is Saint Protasius wearing on his shoulder? The shape of it looks almost like two narrow spoons on a keyring, and I can't imagine it's function, clothing-wise

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:50 am

Thanks for the positive replies!

Aonghus: You should do one of those "underwear" up pic series so we can see all the different parts of the kit.

When its all done, I intend to!
I'm doing crunches now to prepare.

Hew: Is that an ornate fibula on your right shoulder? Looks impressive, from what I can see in the photo.

What is Saint Protasius wearing on his shoulder? The shape of it looks almost like two narrow spoons on a keyring, and I can't imagine it's function, clothing-wise

It is a big cloak clasp I borrowed from Adam Berry (Raymond's Quiet Press I believe, though I couldn't find it on his site).

I think the "two narrow spoons on a keyring" is possibly a "tie" or possibly an artistic impression of a metal cloak clasp. The hardest thing about using a mosaic as a modle is the "what the hell is that thing" process of figuring out what to make. We did that a lot.

Currently I'm researching (with very poor results) 6-10th Cent Roman/Latin/middle-eastern cloak clasps that might fit the bill. I'd prefer to find something documentable that looks similar. If I can't find anything, I think I'll commission a cloak clasp with 2 ornate floating "stems", to capture the look.

Primvs Pavlvs · Post by **Primvs Pavlvs** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:59 am

D. if you are looking for high quality brooches, and you want something no one else does. Check out this stuff here! This guy is totally cool, and very easy to deal with.

http://w10.eleven2.com/~joorthuy/rat/vi ... 3d1d50c033

Roibeard MacNeill · Post by **Roibeard MacNeill** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:50 am

D,

Beautiful kit...and it does the mosaic justice! Do you happen to have more pictures of the garb underneath the cloak? Mayhaps close up picks of the cuffs with the freshwater pearls?

Everything looks top notch...and you wear it well.

Will you be at Gulf Wars? It may be unfortunately too warm to wear during the day but the cool nights may need such layering...

Egfroth · Post by **Egfroth** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:55 pm

Very impressive indeed. And yes, those are ties on the cloak in the original - similar (but not identical) to those on Cnut's cloak in the picture below.

Keep working on the impression. Sometimes you can just "luck" it in, in finding the right fabrics for things like tablia. Mine were originally from a Balinese prayer shawl, but there was quite a fashion about 20 years ago for bedspreads with wonderful foliate patterns in the weave - I have one in silvery threads on a brownish background. Sometimes you can pick them up in garage sales or thrift shops.

Dunno about the red shoes, though. Haven't you heard of the sumptuary laws? Only the Emperor is allowed to wear them, and I must warn you, We are Not Amused.

Egfrothos Byzantios Peripatetikos
Basileus kai Augustus
Autokrator kai Despotos ton Romaion

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:44 pm

Looks great!

you should come up to Maine sometime...Portland...Ill take ya down to the old port, buy ya a beer! We can talk more about that Byzantine LH group!

Matt

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:16 pm

Roibeard,
I'll get more pics after we get more "bling" attached.
All the cash is going into building a house, but I think we'll be back in the swing soon.

Egfroth,
I'll be on the lookout for those "Balinese prayer shawls".

As for the "red shoes", they are brown, though I'm considering making them black if I could figure out the decoration on the boots in the mosaic.

Now I have a question about the red shoes sumptuary laws...

It is agreed that as different times, "red shoes" were reserved for the Emperor. But at oter times, there is notated where red shoes/boots were worn by other than the Emperor.

http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/sandal.html#rom
http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/sandal.html#baz

From what I've found, it seems that it is not just a color, but often a COLOR and a STYLE together that was regulated. Some pieces of wardrobe were often outlawed at the whim of the Emperor, it seems though that this was sporadic and not a sweeping decree that encompassed all styles or lasted for the life of the Empire.

Thoughts?

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:19 pm

MJBlazek,

Great Northeastern War?

I'm thinking we should have our Byzantine Living History group (both of us) meet there for a toast. We could start an annual thang.

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:47 pm

Sounds like a plan to me!

I most definatly will not have a Byzantine Hard Kit ready for GNE, but I will most probibly will have a soft kit ready...or mostly

Keep in touch! We'll make plans!

Matt