Half suit 1600-1620.
As purchased it consists of a pair of munions ( item number A-382a), breast ( item number A-382b), back ( item number A-382c), and a pair of tassets ( item number A-382d and item number A-382e). This was augmented with a cabasset which was purchased in the same sale ( item number A-414) to complete a display. Rough from the hammer. Old black finish. The parts well matched in style, date, size, condition and finish.
Cabasset: Tall, elegant one piece bowl rising to a small stalk. Central crease. Narrow brim extending to a point front and back. Brim with inward turned roped roll at the edge. Rough from the hammer surface with old black finish. The hammer work is rougher on this piece than is typical, but I have seen similarly rough work on some of the rough Fenton cabassets. Retains all lining rivets and rosettes which still secure a cloth lining band. Single small dent in the front of the central crease. The brim includes an old patch on the inside that appears to be original - part of the construction process. It patches a crack in the roll in the brim and it is rolled into the roll, so it was almost certainly a patch that was made before the roll was formed. This appears to be in nearly original condition. Many of these are described as having come through Fenton and Sons, but there is no provenance on this piece. The form of the bowl, stalk and brim appear to be somewhat in between the typical form illustrated by item number A-351 and the morion-cabasset form illustrated by item number A-323.
Pair of Munions: Gorget constructed of a single plate front and back. The front plate with a central crease. The bottom edge pointed at the center. Rear plate formed to the shoulder blades. Neck of the plates flared to form an integral collar. Upper edge of the collar with a plain inward turn. Two plates joined by a pivoting rivet at the left and a pin engaging a keyhole slot on te right. Matching shoulders of 5 plates each. The bottom plate with a plain inward turn on the edge. Each with a buckle at the front. The top plate of the shoulder relatively flat, the next more rounded to mimic the point of the shoulder. Shoulder plates secured to each other by sliding rivets at the back and internal leathers at the center and front. Shoulders secure to the gorget plates with three leathers - two to the rear gorget plate, one to the front. The leather on the right front can be detached - it is secured to an internal rivet with a large flat head that forms a button. Overall rough from the hammer with an old black finish. The edges of the shoulder plates and gorget main plate decorated with parallel incised lines. Leathers broken.
Breastplate: One piece breast with central crease and a waist that drops at the center of the waist to form a simple peascod form. Integral flare at the waist to carry tassets. Arms and neck with plain inward turns. Buckles at the shoulders to secure the backplate's shoulder straps. Rivets in the flare for leathers to secure tassets (broken). Marked under the right arm on the outside with "154" in a font that seems to be the same as many stamped inventory numbers found on pieces that have come from (or remain in) the Solothurn arsenal. Marked on the interior of the flare with two parallel chisel marks.
Backplate: One piece back shaped to the shoulders and flared at the waist. Neck, arms, and edge of waist flare with plain inward turned rolls. Rough from the hammer surface. Most old black finish remains. Straps at the shoulders and a belt at the waist. Belt with a nice iron buckle. A later hole in the center of the back. This type of hole has sometimes been used to mount the back to a wall, and then the breast is secured to the back to hang a "half suit" from the wall.
Tasset: Constructed of 5 plates. Shaped to the fauld and tapered to the leg. Top plate slightly taller than the next 3 and the bottom plate taller than the rest. Bottom plate with narrow inward roll at the base. Top plate with 2 buckles to attach to the straps hanging from the fauld flare. Plates secured to each other with one line of pivoting rivets near the lateral edge and internal leather strips at the center and near the medial edge. Leathers secured to the plates with one rivet each. Leathers replaced. Surface rough from the hammer retaining most of the old black finish. Each plate marked internally with 6 short chisel marks. These are normally described as assembly marks - they allow the armourer to keep track of which parts go with each other. Since the marks, style and size match this and item number A-382e are almost certainly a pair. For the right leg.
Tasset: Constructed of 5 plates. Shaped to the fauld and tapered to the leg. Top plate slightly taller than the next 3 and the bottom plate taller than the rest. Bottom plate with narrow inward roll at the base. Top plate with 2 buckles to attach to the straps hanging from the fauld flare. Plates secured to each other with one line of pivoting rivets near the lateral edge and internal leather strips at the center and near the medial edge. Leathers secured to the plates with one rivet each. Leathers replaced. Surface rough from the hammer retaining most of the old black finish. Each plate marked internally with 6 short chisel marks. These are normally described as assembly marks - they allow the armourer to keep track of which parts go with each other. Since the marks, style and size match this and item number A-382d are almost certainly a pair. For the left leg.
The final picture shows the parts purchased as a single item.
If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen
This site last updated Wed Dec 03 15:39:59 EST 2025