Awaiting location update
Maker(s)
Unknown
Entities
Categories
Description
A pair of divisible, knee-length tassets, for use by a cuirassier. The tassets are each formed of nineteen upward-overlapping lames, terminating in winged poleyns, each formed of four lames that overlap outwards from the third which is shaped to the point of the knee. The tassets can be separated between their thirteenth and fourteenth lames where they are connected to one another by studs and keyhole-slots. The first lame in each instance is angled inward at its upper edge. The centre of the inward-angled section is boxed to fit over the hinge that formerly connected it to the breastplate. The first thirteen lames are connected to one another by three modern internal leathers secured by pairs of rivets. The remaining lames of the tassets and their poleyns are connected to one another by rivets at their outer ends. Many of the connecting-rivets are now missing. The wings of the poleyns are of heart-shaped form with pronounced central puckers. The tassets have file-roped inward turns at their main edges, and are decorated with pairs of incised lines and filed nicks, cusps and ogees at their subsidiary edges. Part of the composite three-quarter armour HEN.M.15A-F-1933.
Notes
History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.
Legal notes
J.S. Henderson Bequest
Measurements and weight
Depth: 26.0 cm
Height: 27.7 cm
Weight: 2.26 kg
Width: 26.0 cm
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed
(1933-03-16)
by
Henderson, James Stewart
Dating
17th Century#
Production date:
circa
AD 1620
Note
The tassets, close helmet (HEN.M.15A-1933), and rear skirt (HEN.M.15D-1933) are well matched and may originally have belonged to one another, with the exception of the poleyns which are composed of disparate elements and show traces of gilding. The main plate of the right poleyn is etched with bands and borders of scrolling foliage in the Italian fashion of about 1560-78. The main plate of the left poleyn is decorated with fluting in the German fashion of about 1510-20.
Now is a russet colour overall, but was originally bright or in parts, perhaps blued
Components of the work
Poleyns
composed of
gilt
Internal Leathers
composed of
leather
Connection
Decoration
Left Poleyn
Parts
Right Poleyn
Materials used in production
Steel
Techniques used in production
Hammering
: Each are formed of nineteen upward-overlapping lames, terminating in winged poleyns, each formed of four lames that overlap outwards from the third which is shaped to the point of the knee; hammered, shaped, riveted, hinged, decorated with file-roping, incised lines, filed nicks, cusps and ogees, fluting (left poleyn) and etching (right poleyn)
Forming
Identification numbers
Accession number: HEN.M.15F-1933
Primary reference Number: 17960
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Friday 8 January 2016
Last processed: Thursday 7 December 2023
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
