Breastplate (body armour): HEN.M.107-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Breastplate (body armour)
• Skirt
• breastplate with skirt

Categories

• Armour

Description

Breastplate with skirt, for infantry or light cavalry use. The breastplate is of rounded, medially-ridged, one-piece construction with bold, angular, outward turns at the neck and arm-openings. A rivet-hole for the attachment of a shoulder-strap is pierced at the top of each shoulder. The lower edge of the breastplate is flanged outwards to receive a skirt of four upward overlapping lames, the lowest of which is made in two slightly overlapping halves, the inner ends of which are cut off obliquely to form a small ogival arch over the crotch. The lames are connected to one another and to the breastplate at their outer ends by modern round-headed rivets and square internal washers. Similar rivets and washers secure the inner ends of each half of the lowest lame to the lame above it. The lower corner of each half of the lowest lame is fitted with a modern round-headed rivet serving only as decoration.

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

16th Century, Early#
Production date: circa AD 1510

Note

Armour was made by hammering out a piece of iron or steel to the shape required. The hammering would leave quite considerable marks on both the top and inner surfaces, as can be seen here. The outer surface would be ground flat and polished till it was smooth. In large workshops it was common to divide the work of making armour into several areas; the armourer would carry out the main shaping, grinders and polishers would prepare the top surface, the decoration would be done by other craftsmen and the final fitting by specialists in making buckles and all the necessary leather straps.

North Italian

The skirt is associated with the breastplate, and is in itself composite. The internal patination of the first lame is different form that of the rest, which from the positioning of their rivets are probably also associated with one another; at least in their present configuration. The breastplate and skirt are bright with some light to medium pitting overall.