Tasset end plate 1540-60
German. From a garniture. Cupped under the knee and with 2 keyhole slots to secure it to the end of a tasset. Decorated with etching in three bands around the edge and at the center. In each cae the central band wider than the side bands. Roped around the edge. With pairs of rivets simulating leather rivets at the center and inside. Due to the quality of the manufacture and etching, and the fact that it is an exchange piece, this formed part of a very good quality armour. Ex. Royal Armoury of Portugal in Lisbon in 1834.
I have found similarly shaped tasset terminal end plates designed to be secured to tassets by turning pins in the Real Armeria in Madrid. There are two pairs displayed, each with similar triple band decoration but different patterns of etching. The red background image above shows these on display. Garnitures made for Charles V often have different styles of etched border decoration on different pieces, so this plate could be part of the same garniture.
If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen
This site last updated Wed Jul 09 21:38:05 EDT 2025