Pteruges

[Peroni]

I saw this picture (a trophy from the Temple of Hadrian) on Travis' website and wondered why the fringing seemed to be twisted in opposite directions to its neighbour. I wondered how (if it were fabric fringe) it kept its shape and direction of 'twist'.



I think I have worked out how it was made! If the pteruges were not linen or fringed with wool, they have to be leather. With leather, just by making a few vertical cuts and slots, the fringe can be twisted to make the same shapes. I have made them on my pteruges...



What do you think Travis? Feasable attempt :?:

[Robert Vermaat]

Feasable attempt :?:

For leather pteruges, indeed a good reconstruction as far as I can see.

[Peroni]

Thanks Robert!

[aitor iriarte]

Adrian,

Surely my mind is rather thick after so much time away from Roman discussions but, could you explain in a more detailed way how did you made those fringes? 8)
Many thanks,

Aitor

[Peroni]

Certainly Aitor!

Make sure that the leather is WELL oiled before twisting the fringes, as they sit better and hold their shape better when oiled first.

It's a very simple process.. Basically make a fringe, then slit the fringes but not all the way to the bottom, leaving a small tab of leather.

Take the tabs and turn them back through the slits twice to get the effect seen in my photo above.

[aitor iriarte]

Got it!
Many thanks, Adrian!

Aitor

[Caius Fabius]

I used layers of linen, 3 layers for the shoulders, 5 layers for the skirt, doubled over and sewn together, with the bottoms stitched 1 inch higher. The bottoms unravel and then produce a fringe.

I used double layers at skirt and shoulders, but they are not as beautiful as the ones on the stautuary... back to the cutting board....

[Robert Vermaat]

3 layers for the shoulders, 5 layers for the skirt, doubled over and sewn together

CF, do you have a detailed picture of how that looks?

[Caius Fabius]

no, what detail, the individual strips or the costume?

[Robert Vermaat]

The individual strips.

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

Very great idea!!!

[Robert Vermaat]

Ok, latest update on pteruges.
I have laid out all the materials for my subarmalis and I have the following data sheet on pteruges based on the figurative evidence.
Average number of pteruges per kilt, approx. 40-60 per layer, with an average of two layers.
Pteruge width is 1 - 1.5 inches, lengths is variable dependent on leg length, mine is about 20-22 inches from the waistline..

Did you already make a document of the step-by-step construction?

Latest update on my pteryges:
I used my Xmas holidays to sew 60 pteryges, all 40 cm long and 7 cm wide. They are of hemp canvas with red linen sewn on top, and they'll go in a double layer. I may decide to 'fill them' with a strip of felt if I think they're not stiff enough.

The shoulder pteryges will probably be sewn to a short sleeve, as late Roman statues seem to indicate - there's no way these pteryges can 'cling' to the upper arm and be attached to the shoulder only!

[aitor iriarte]

Any pics? 8)

Aitor

[Robert Vermaat]

Yes, but don't laugh

This is only one layer, and it was attached with clothes-pegs to my belt, to get a first idea of how they behaved and how many I would need. This is a row of 24 pteryges.

[aitor iriarte]

Aha, I see that you've chosen to make short fringes, why? :?

Aitor