Solea Help

[Doc]

Below are links to pictures of solea that I downloaded from google.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb24 ... andals.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb24 ... als_02.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb24 ... als_03.jpg


Are these accurate at all in shape and construction?

What time period would these be?

If the stitching goes all the say through to the bottom, will it not break after walking in concrete?


Does anyone have good photos of original solea or good reconstructions since I would like to make a pair. (The photos should have details of the bottom, front, side etc)

Thanks in advance

[M. Demetrius]

There is a tool at the leather supply house called a "stitching groover". It is a little blade with a guide on the side, so you can cut a groove around the perimeter of a leather sole, and put your stitches in the groove, so the thread doesn't contact the pavement so much. It helps a lot, but eventually, you will need to repair your stitches, just like they did.

Be sure your stitches go in the groove, though, on the street side, or you'll be repairing the errant stitch after one or two outings. If you look closer at the third picture you posted, you can see the groove...now that you know what you're looking for--

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/sear ... r&x=12&y=4

[Sutoris]

Period will be 2-4 century AD

A better (longer lasting)way is to just cut a channel around the perimeter with the tip of a sharp knife, +/- 3mm deep
Moist the sole leather and open up the chanel with your bone folder.
Stitch the soles together, put glue in the channel and close it with the bone folder.
Closing the channel firm by hammering it.
This is the modern way

You can also use the Roman lacing method

[Sutoris]

A little out of focus but here is the stich

It's up side down so the top is the outersole.
If you pull the lace it will disapear into the leather

[Neuraleanus]

It's up side down so the top is the outersole.
If you pull the lace it will disapear into the leather

Explain this to me, the picture suggests that the lace is pushed into diagonal slots cut through the soles, but how do you get the lace through the tunnels between the soles? Isn't some sort of curved cutting tool needed to make the tunnels?

[Martin Moser]

Are these accurate at all in shape and construction?

Shape is ok, although probably not an exact reproduction of a find, I'd guess. The way these are stitched is certainly wrong - see Filip's post above.

What time period would these be?

Late 2nd and mostly first half of the 3rd cent. AD.

Does anyone have good photos of original solea or good reconstructions since I would like to make a pair.

What period are you thinking of? Make and appearance change quite a bit over time.

[Martin Moser]

Explain this to me, the picture suggests that the lace is pushed into diagonal slots cut through the soles, but how do you get the lace through the tunnels between the soles? Isn't some sort of curved cutting tool needed to make the tunnels?

There are no tunnels between soles, the lacing just simply follows the straight stiches forming a horizontal zig-zag line (like a "V" followed by an inverted "V", and so on). Hope that's understandable?

[Sutoris]

Thanks for the explanation Martin
Here's a better pic

[M. Demetrius]

I've read somewhere that that toe-shaped soleus shown here was found at Vindolanda, and another place that it was found in Judea. Just off hand, I'd probably go with the latter. Un-hobnailed soleae were worn indoors, though, so I guess they could be wherever Romans had houses.

[Neuraleanus]

There are no tunnels between soles, the lacing just simply follows the straight stiches forming a horizontal zig-zag line (like a "V" followed by an inverted "V", and so on). Hope that's understandable?

Ok, I think that I understand. I was confused by Sutoris's statement of "the lace disappearing into the leather" and the drawing suggested tunnel stitching.

[Martin Moser]

I've read somewhere that that toe-shaped soleus shown here was found at Vindolanda, and another place that it was found in Judea. Just off hand, I'd probably go with the latter. Un-hobnailed soleae were worn indoors, though, so I guess they could be wherever Romans had houses.

Soleae of that style were found in a large number of places in England, Germany and the Netherlands as well as in Egypt or Syria. Soleae and shoe styles generally were not bound to one place or region. The question is, rather, does the style fit to the period you want to use them for. Also, solae weren't unnailed necessarily. Again that depends on the period, mostly. From the late 2nd/early 3rd cent. AD they seem to have been worn outside a lot as well, if we accept nailing to be a valid indicator of that.

[Doc]

Thanks all for the reply.

I thought I replied yesterday. However, when I looked at the thread this morning, my reply was missing.