Pair of Tassets 1560-70
North German, Brunswick. Each formed of 8 lames which can be separated between the fourth and fifth lames. Extended by a detatchable poleyne of four lames, the third forming the cop. Each with three buckles for suspension from straps on the fauld, mounted with decorated plates (three on the left well matched and almost certainly original, one on the right well matched, one broken and likely a contemporary replacement the third cruder and either associated or, more likely, modern). Lower edges of the two tasset sections with inward turned rolled borders with a narrow recessed band. Medial edge of the plates continues this full inward turned roll. The rolls are terminated on each lame where the next plate overlaps to allow the plates to align nicely at rest. Lateral edge with a false roll just formed as a bump. This continues for the full height of each lame because it can overlap and not interfere with the fit of the plates. The medial roll extends along the edges of the poleynes and down on the lower edge. The lateral bump extends along the edge of the top plate of the poleyne. The lowest plate does not have either on its lateral edge. The cop includes an oval wing with central pucker and full inward turn at the edge. The top edges of the tasset plates and top and bottom of the cop have a bevelled edge which still shows signs of original file/grind marks. Rivets with (possibly later) pewter rosettes. Some delamination. Good hammered internal surface. Exterior almost certainly originally bright. Plates secured by internal central and medial leathers (secured to each plate by pairs of rivets) and sliding rivets laterally. Left retains the additional internal leather past the sliding rivets. The right has lost most of this leather, but we can see the holes or rivets that would have secured it. Interestingly, there are pairs of holes in the two upper poleyne lames for a (missing) internal leather, mimicing tasset construction and different from many knee lames. Retains a (later) strap and buckle at the center of each knee cop. Rivets, holes and bits of leather show where there would have been another strap at the bottom of the bottom lame of the poleyne and around the leg at the seventh lame. Leathers broken in some places. Some leathers likely working life, others appear to be more modern replacements. Segments joined with a large keyhole on the lateral side engaging a stepped, domed head rivet and a smaller keyhole engaging a turning pin on the medial side. The tassets can be worn as displayed, or as short or long tassets. A very similar pair from the same source: item number A-181.
Thickness: measured on a few plates of the left varies between .060 and .022 inch, generally the top lame is app. .055, the next lames .035. Knee cop app. .045 with some thicker areas on the wing.
Weight: Right 3 pounds 8.4 ounces (1600g), left 3 pounds 10.4 ounces (1650g).
Provenance: Brunswick Ducal Armoury - Wolfenbuttel, Schloss Marienburg, Property from the Hanoverian Royal Collections sold Olympia Auctions 8 Dec. 2010 lot 169.
If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen
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