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Tassets: HEN.M.20C-1933

Object information

Awaiting location update

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

Two tassets and poleyns, nearly forming a pair. The tassets are each formed of eleven medially-ridged, upward-overlapping lames that widen from the first to the fifth lame and then narrow again from the sixth to the eleventh lame. The first lame, which is wider and more heavily-constructed than the rest, is associated. It is transversely boxed and decorated with a file-roped rib along the angle of the boxing. It is pierced above the angle at each side with later horizontal slots that must at some time have fitted over rectangular studs riveted at each side of the waist-flange of the breastplate. A raised rectangular panel located mid-way between the slots, and pierced at its centre with a large circular hole, is designed to fit over the protruding bolt of a suspension-hinge riveted at each side of the lower edge of the breastplate. The tassets are divisible between their sixth and seventh lames which are connected to one another at each side by turning-pins and keyhole-slots. The lames are otherwise connected to one another by modern siding-rivets at their outer ends, and by modern internal leathers at their inner ends and centres. Each tasset terminates in a poleyn formed of four medially-ridged lames that overlap outwards from the second which is shaped to the point of the knee and furnished at its outside with a moderately large triangular wing. The front edges of each wing appear to have been cut. The second lame is decorated medially by a file-roped rib enclosed between a pair of narrow grooves. The second lame of the right poleyn is decorated at its outside with a file-roped transverse rib. The main edges of the tassets and poleyns are decorated with file-roped inward turns accompanied by recessed borders. The turns of the left tasset and poleyn are file-roped in both directions, producing a series of X's. The secondary edges of the tassets and poleyns are decorated with pairs of incised lines. Part of the composite armour HEN.M.20A-H-1933.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

17th Century, Early#
Circa 1610 - 1620

Note

Differences in the decorative details of the poleyns show that they are not an exact pair. The left poleyn is possibly associated as its medial ridge does not align with the medial ridge of the tasset with which it is associated.

The tassets and poleyns are bright with a variable light to medium patination overall.

Components of the work

Internal Leathers composed of leather ( modern)
Right Depth 13.6 cm Height 66.7 cm Weight 2.27 kg Width 27.0 cm
Left Depth 14.0 cm Height 65.0 cm Weight 2.27 kg Width 28.5 cm
Edges, Borders
Main Edges
Panel
Parts
Poleyn, Lames
Rib Decoration
Right Poleyn

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammering : The tassets are formed of eleven medially-ridged, upward-overlapping lames that widen from the first to the fifth lame and then narrow again from the sixth to the eleventh lame; hammered, shaped, riveted, raised, with file-roping, and recessed boders
Forming

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: tag with number

  • Text: PB/36a
  • Location: Left tasset
  • Type: Label

Inscription present: tag with number

  • Text: PB/36b
  • Location: Right tasset
  • Type: Label

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.20C-1933
Primary reference Number: 18046
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

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Tassets" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/18046 Accessed: 2024-03-19 09:30:48

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/18046 |title=Tassets |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-19 09:30:48|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-18046

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