Fletching area
Hello,
I'm going on with learning and experiences in arrowmaking... in many oriental arrows, I've noted that a kind of woven with patterns, or sometimes other materials, are underlayed in the fletching area. As far as I can observe on photos, on some turkish arrows a patterned silk ribbon was used.
Does anyone know any probable reasons for this?
TIA for your answers, best regards
Gianrico
I'm going on with learning and experiences in arrowmaking... in many oriental arrows, I've noted that a kind of woven with patterns, or sometimes other materials, are underlayed in the fletching area. As far as I can observe on photos, on some turkish arrows a patterned silk ribbon was used.
Does anyone know any probable reasons for this?
TIA for your answers, best regards
Gianrico
Gianrico,
The patterns are painted on. Sometimes the arrows were wrapped with sinew and then that was painted. Over the years the paint and the sinew broke down and it gave the impression of fabric.
I don't have any of the elaborately painted Turkish arrows; some of mine have bands of gold leaf. I also have Japanese arrows done this way. However, some in the Grayson Collection are beautifully painted as are many in the German and Turkish museums, which I have only seen in pictures.
It is the Indo-Persian style arrows that are most commonly decorated. The shiny skin of the shaft is scraped away and complex designs are painted on with various pigments. Over time the paint cracks and forms patterns that might look like cloth in a photograph.
I think Arab Archery mentions using fabric in place of feathers in an emergency.
The patterns are painted on. Sometimes the arrows were wrapped with sinew and then that was painted. Over the years the paint and the sinew broke down and it gave the impression of fabric.
I don't have any of the elaborately painted Turkish arrows; some of mine have bands of gold leaf. I also have Japanese arrows done this way. However, some in the Grayson Collection are beautifully painted as are many in the German and Turkish museums, which I have only seen in pictures.
It is the Indo-Persian style arrows that are most commonly decorated. The shiny skin of the shaft is scraped away and complex designs are painted on with various pigments. Over time the paint cracks and forms patterns that might look like cloth in a photograph.
I think Arab Archery mentions using fabric in place of feathers in an emergency.
Thanks a lot Bede for explain me. Aside to basics of arrow building I am trying (evaluating for now) some decoration techniques.
If i will have decent results I will surely show you to ask your advice.
Thanks, best regards
Gianrico
If i will have decent results I will surely show you to ask your advice.
Thanks, best regards
Gianrico