The majority that I find in illuminations are of a solid color. The illuminations seem to use the same color for every lance shown, however, there is no real consistancy between illuminations. Some are solid red, some brown, some yellow.

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I believe in most cases they were painted. There are a couple of later Medieval/Early Rennaisance lances at the Higgins. From recollection, at least one has the barest traces of paint on it.

As to regularity, if they were actually issued items as sometimes could happen, they were probably all painted the same, although I imagine most important people would have them painted to suit their fancy. Not that the regularity would necessarily last - de Commynes commenting on the cavaly action at Fornovo mentions a point in the battle where the French Gendarmes were "unarmed", as they had broken most of their lances, and setting their valets to gathering up the discarded but whole Italian lances (for some reason the allied cavalry didn't want to press home a charge with lances) to re-arm the French Gendarmes. He even mentions the Scottish archers of the guard picking up lances and participating as men at arms in the cavalry action during this battle (they were heavily armoured, but were not armed with lances being merely mounted archers), and suffering heavy casualties for their enthusiastic participation. Anyhow, it could be a jumble in short order.

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