Awaiting location update
Maker(s)
Production:
Unknown
(Possibly)
Entities
Categories
Description
Breastplate, for use by a harquebusier. The breastplate is formed in one piece with a narrow, upward-flanged neck-opening and a flange at the waist. It is medially-ridged and dips strongly to the centre of the waist. Riveted at each side of the chest is a modern mushroom-shaped stud that serves to engage the shoulder-straps of the backplate. Large modern wiring-holes have been pierced at each arm-opening and to either side of the centre of the neck-opening. Those at the arm-openings have subsequently been partly closed. Attached by a single round-headed rivet at each side of the breastplate, just above the waist-flange, is a modern, hinged iron hasp for the suspension of the tassets. The distal end of the left hasp is fitted with a mushroom-shaped stud, while that of the right hasp is fitted with a symmetrical turning-pin. The arm-openings and the neck-opening have plain inward turns. The turns of the former are bordered by single incised lines. Three pairs of incised lines diverge upwards and outwards from the waist to the centres of the arm-openings and the neck-opening respectively. The centre of the left side of the breastplate is struck with the proof-mark of a bullet. The breastplate appears originally to have been made for use by an harquebusier rather than a cuirassier. Part of the composite three-quarter armour HEN.M.18A-F-1933.
Notes
History note: Probably in the Stafford Collection sold by Christies, London, 28-30 May 1885, Lot 74 for £29. Subsequently in the Amherst Collection, sold by Christies, London, 11 December 1908, Lot 56, 32 gns. Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.
Legal notes
J.S. Henderson Bequest
Measurements and weight
Depth: 18.5 cm
Height: 44.0 cm
Weight: 4.75 kg
Width: 34.2 cm
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed
(1933-03-16)
by
Henderson, James Stewart
Dating
17th Century#
Circa
1630
CE
-
1640
CE
Note
The armour has a russet finish over a variably-pitted surface that may originally have been either bright or 'black from the hammer'.
Components of the work
Hinge Hasp
composed of
iron (metal)
Breastplate
Decoration
Parts
Sides
Materials used in production
Steel
Techniques used in production
Hammering
: The medially-ridged breastplate is formed in one piece with a narrow, upward-flanged neck-opening and a flange at the waist; hammered, shaped, riveted, hinged, decorated with inicised lines
Forming
Identification numbers
Accession number: HEN.M.18B-1933
Primary reference Number: 18006
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
