Breastplate 1500
For infantry use. Formed in one piece with strong medial ridge and large, tapered, angular outward turns at the neck and arm holes. Narrow flare at the waist with pairs of holes at each side for the suspension of the fauld lames. The rolls taper down to very fine ends. The form of the rolls is relatively tall and somewhat narrow. The faces of the rolls are flat and touch the main body at a very steep angle. These are often called triangular rolls, but the back "angle" is really a broad curve. The neck roll comes to a very subtle point at the center.
The mark is the same as that found on a right cuisse formerly in the armoury of the Dukes of Osuna, later in the collection of Francis Henry Cripps Day and also the left spaulder of an armour previously in the collection of Abrose Monnell. Typical of ones shown in Spanish and Flemish sources. Given its assumed provenance it was likely used in Spain. This is a fine example of a rare type of breastplate made at the turn of the 16th century. Examples like it may be found in the Waffensammlung Vienna, Metropolitan Museum NY, Bostom Museum of Fine Art, Musee do L'Armee, Kienbusch Collection in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mantova etc. Details of the form are very similar to the breastplate on armour B5 in Mantova (specifically the aggressively tapered rolls, curve over the top of the shoulder, high neck line and the central curve. There is a similar breastplate in the current collection: item number A-66. Painted on the inside with the number 4116 in black paint.
Measurements: height from the center neck hole to the waist flare 13 1/2". Width 13 1/4" under the arms, 10 1/2" at the waist, 11 1/8" at the shoulders, 10 1/2" at the narrowest point across the uppper chest (outside of roll to outside of roll on the inside). Thickness - overall thicker in the center, thinning at the shoulders and under the arms - generally app. .08-.09" at the center and .05 at the edges under the arms. There are spots at the edges under the arms down to .039 and some areas in the center left chest up to .120. Arm rolls reach .7 in. at the highest spot, the neck roll .75 in. tall at the center. Weight 4 pounds 15.2 ounces (2.245 kilos).
Provenance: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO. from Bashford Dean, and probably part of the items sold over three sales in 1880, 1890 and 1896 of the Armoury of the Duke of Osuna and Infantado.
If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen
This site last updated Mon Dec 27 11:29:14 EST 2021