Shield Boss and grip 5th or 6th c.
Anglo-Saxon. The shield boss of Dickinson type 1.1. The grip terminating at each end with volutes. One terminal lost. Heavily oxidized. Ground find, but a rare early piece. See Dickinson , Harke Early Anglo-Saxon Shields in Archaeologia Vol 110 for 1962 - pp.10-13 and 24-27, figure 7, 16 and 17 for comparable examples. From the collection of Anthony De Reuck.
Not for sale.
Brigandine plates 14th-16th century
Brigandine plates. 14 small and 2 larger plates from a brigandine. The two large plates are 6 1/4 and 6 1/2 inches long, and just over 3/4 inches wide. They have a row of closely-spaced rivets at the upper edge. The rivets are app. 3/8 inch on center. The smaller plates are also slightly over 3/4 inches tall. Most are app. 1 1/2 inches long. The smaller plates fall into 2 types. 13 are rectangular/trapezoidal with (generally) 2 rivets at the upper edge. The last plate is oval and has 3 rivets which are of a different form - larger, flatter heads. The plates vary signifcantly in curvature. Many seem to have been flattened or bent after their working life.
Not for sale.
Shaffron Cheek Plate. late 15th-early 16th c.
Turkish. Remains of etching on the surface. With a raised section in the middle and a flare over the eye. In excavated condition. From the personal collection of Claude Blair.
Not for sale.
Plates. late 15th-early 16th c.
Turkish. small number of plates from mail and plate shirts. From the personal collection of Claude Blair.
Not for sale.
Tasset end plate circa 1490-1510
Terminal lame of a right tasset. Decorated with Wolf's Tooth embossing. The teeth are lightly embossed and each side is accented with an engraved line. This was a relatively short lived style of decoration seen on some German armour at the end of the 15th and early 16th c. The bottom edge of the plate with a narrow and shallow bump simulating a roll. A line of replaced lining rivets along the lower edge and holes at the outside for the sliding rivet and at the center and inside for leathers. Heavily corroded. The piece appears to have been acid cleaned during the 20th century, this leaves the grey dull finish seen here. The plate appears to be somewhat deformed - the medial side is straighter than it would have been originally.
See item number III.1246 in the Royal Armouries in Leeds for a fine example of this style of decoration.
Not for sale.
Brigandine plates 15th-16th c
From the Thames at the Queensbury Dock, near Southwark bridge. Composed of 4 different plates, varying in size. One with star-decorated rivets. Two with capped rivets. One larger with many rivets. The two smaller plates were sold, the two larger are still in the collection.
Not for sale.
Skull cap circa 1500
One piece bowl cut out over the ears. Pierced with 2 small holes above each ear and one at the front and back. Painted with 57 inside. Brass tag stamped 650 attached to one side. From the George F. Harding Collection, previously ex collection Archduke Eugen - Fortress Hohenwerfen. Apparently lot 833 from the 1927 catalogue (page 144).
8 1/4in. long, 7in. wide, 4in. deep.
Thickness varies. Generally the thickest area is around the edge where there are some spots which reach .11in, on average closer to .095in. One inch in from the edge is is app. .090in (varying between .085 and .1). Two inches in it is app. .075 in, varying up to .085. Three inches in the thickness is generally .060-065in. Assuming the progression of thickness is indicative of the manufacture, it seems that the arches over the ears were likely cut from the completed form since the thickness is consistent with simlar distances from the main edge, not from the edge of the arch.
Not for sale.
Sallet circa 1500-10
North Italian. Formed of a hemispherical skull rising to a low medial ridge with a brow and tail plate. The brow plate rises to a central point. The brow and tail plate have narrow inward turns on the bottom edge. Overall heavily pitted, chipped, and in places holed. The skull shows signs of hammer marks on the inside and a smoother finish on the outside. There are 8 rivets or holes which have lost the rivets that appear to have been used to secure the lining. The brow and tail plates secured by rivets on each end to the skull (the one on the right side of the tail lame broken out). Small brazed repairs, a working life riveted repair at the nape and a modern repair at the center of the tail. The type of helmet, form of the helmet, condition and repairs are consistent with pieces from the armoury of the Knights of St. John at Rhodes. For items from this source see The Medieval Armour From Rhodes - Karcheski and ,Richardson.
Measurements: 7 3/4 in. (19.8 cm) high, bowl 8 1/4 wide at the side and 10 1/4 long. 12 1/2 in. long overall between the center of the brow and the end of the tail. Brow and tail lame 1 3/4 in tall at the ends, brow 3 in. tall at the center point and tail 2 1/2 in. tall in the center.
Thickness (after significant corrosion): tail and brow plates vary between .020 and .050 inches, mostly .040-.050 in. the bowl varies between .035 and .070, mostly .046-.060 in. Thickness varies point to point as we usually see in these things.
Weight 3 pounds 0.8 ounces (1380 g).
Not for sale.
Tasset terminal plate circa 1505
German. Rectangular form with widely spaced radiating flutes. Flutes with parallel incised lines on each side except for the outer-most flute which is formed as a step and only has one incised line. Upper edge bevelled, lower edge with recessed border and simple ridge simulating a roll. Holes indicate this plate was originally attached ot the other plates by a sliding rivet at the outer edge and an interior leather at the center and inner edge.
4 1/4in. tall.
Thickness varies between .060in, and .035in. Generally between .050 and .045, thinning toward the bottom and inner end. Weight 7.4 oz (205g)
Not for sale.
Maximilian one piece left tasset. circa 1505-10
Good full form. For the left. decorated with three sprays of flutes, each flute accented by engraved lines. Edges with heavily roped inward turned border and parallel recess. Upper ends of the flutes decorated with file notches. Lining rivets in the recessed border retaining portions of a leather band. One piece tassets are less common in this era than ones formed of multiple plates. The armor for man c. 1505 in Philadelphia has one piece tassets of similar form (without flutes, like the rest of the armor). Another example of one piece tassets is found on the armor for Friedrich II von Zollern in the KHM (A240 - S.221).
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Top plate from a right cuisse circa 1510
Formed to an arc allowing the cuise to extend up at the outside of the leg. Decorated with an angular bump along the top edge, a parallel raised ridge and etched flowers around the holes that would have retained the suspension leather. Holes at the bottom for leathers at the front, inside and outside of the leg. There is also an extension which contains a long slot. This is necessary due to the geometry of the plate (minimizing overlap) and the need for the cuisse to collapse to allow the leg to be raised. The upper edge is folded over inside the bump. In between the two bumps the holes which were used to secure the top strip of leather are surrounded by etched flowers. The bottom bump has engraved lines on each side.
Not for sale.
Crinet Plates circa 1510-20
Likely Italian. 2 lames most likely forming the second and third plates from the top of the crinet (the top plates that are not attached to the chanfron). The edges with half rolls and bordered by a line of lining holes. Decorated with etching. Etching closely resembles that on Mantova B-10, Wallace A89 and similar to the etching on the subsidiary plates of Henry VIII 'tonlet' armour from 1520. The etching on this piece is quite crude.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1510-20
German. 5 sprays of flutes, 5 flutes in the center spray, 3 each in the other sprays. Flutes radiate from the bottom. Arm holes bordered with a simple raised ridge. 2 holes at the center top. Likely trimmed slightly at the top. Heavily worn, much of the engraved lines on each flute worn away. Detailed images show some remnant of engraved lines on a flute, the stamped arcs at the ends of the flutes and the simple raised edge, typical of this type of early form. Formed of a main plate with 2 small extension plates. Waist lame with 3 dependent culet lames. Culet with 3 sprays of flutes. Internal riveted patches in culet lames. The waist lame decorated with punched decoration above and below the logical position of the waist belt.
Height - main plate 12 3/4 in. tall. 14 3/4 in. wide under the arms, 10 1/2 in. wide at the waist (center of the waist lame).
Left side plate liklely a good replacement. Culet lames appear to have been re-cut and patched from a culet of gothic form.
Thickness .030 in. to .064 in. On average around .050. There are no signs of intentionally thin or thick areas.
Not for sale.
Tasset circa 1510-20
Formed of 3 narrow plates and one larger plate. Decorated with 7 vertical flutes (each accented with parallel vertical lines) and a recessed border at the bottom bordered by a plain, angular inward turn at the edge. The upper plate is flared out at the front corner to fit the center of the fauld. Plates connected by sliding rivets at the outside and two internal leathers (center and inside).
Not for sale.
Terminal plate of a spaulder or pauldron circa 1510-25
For the right arm. Vertically fluted with a recessed border parallel to the inward turned roll at the bottom edge. Pierced for a turning pin in the vambrace and for rivets for leathers and a sliding rivet. Additional holes for a strap and buckle.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Terminal plate of a spaulder or pauldron circa 1510-25
vertically fluted with a recessed border parallel to the inward turned roll at the bottom edge. Pierced for rivets for leathers and a sliding rivet. Additional holes for a strap and buckle.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Pair of tassets (partial) circa 1510-25
Consisting of 3 plates on the right and 4 plates on the left (bottom 3 currently assembled to match the right). Terminal plate with roped border at the bottom paralleled by a recesssed border. Center with a full spray of flutes. Tops of the plates cut into cusps at each flute. Each flute accented by engraved lines on each side. Inapprpriately assembled with leather loops allowing them to be hung as-is.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Wing for an elbow cop circa 1510-25
A single plate. Designed to be attached to the cop using a peg and turning pin. Decorated with s spray of flutes, a central pucker and a narrow recessed border.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Neck lame for a gorget circa 1510-25
A single plate. Most likely a second or third plate for the front of the neck. Retains pairs of rivets used to secure the three internal leathers. Fluted in the central area. Upper edge cusped to the flutes. We ca see that this is a front plate due to its curvature (the rear plates are straighter in the center) and lack of cut outs at the ends (placed in rear plate to allow the gorget to open).
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Two plates from a pauldron or spaulder circa 1510-25
Two plates, the terminal plate and the one above. For the left arm. Decorated with a central spray of flutes, a recessed border and outward turned fold at the base. Losses at the front. Minor losses at the center of the upper edge of both plates.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Part of a plate from a pauldron or spaulder circa 1510-25
the rear potion of a plate broken at the engraved line next to a flute. For the left arm. Decorated with a central spray of flutes. Significant Loss at the front.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Part of a plate from a pauldron or spaulder circa 1510-25
the rear potion of a plate broken at the engraved line next to a flute. For the left arm. Decorated with a central spray of flutes. Significant Loss at the front.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Main plate of a spaulder circa 1510-25
Widely spaced central band of flutes with sections of roll at the front and back. For the left arm. Losses at the top.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Two plates of a spaulder circa 1510-25
Main plate and the one below. Widely spaced central band of flutes with sections of roll at the back of the top plate (front lost). For the left arm. Losses to both plates at the front.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Wing for an elbow cop circa 1510-25 (style)
A single plate. Designed to be attached to the cop using a rivet. Decorated with s spray of flutes, a central pucker and a narrow recessed border.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Maximilian armor pieces circa 1510-25 and later
Elements of German fluted field armor in the so-called Maximilian fashion. A lot of pieces, mainly early 16th c. Includes a pair of gauntlets, a single one piece tasset, terminal three plates of a pair of tassets, a single tasset lame, an elbow wing, a detachable elbow wing, two vambrace lower canons, terminal plate from an Italian tasset, two terminal plates from a spaulder or pauldron, two plates from a spaulder, two terminal spaulder or pauldron lames, another spaulder lame and two additional partial lames. Image does not include a pair of later gauntlets. Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Two vambraces circa 1510-25 and later
Formed of two plates. The outer vertically fluted with a recessed border parallel to the inward turned roll at the wrist. Plates secured by a hinge on one side and a pin on the innter plate engaging a hole in the outer plate. Pierced for rivets to secure lames for the (lost) elbow cop. One vambrace is of the period, the other appears to be a pretty good 19th/20th c. copy made to match.
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
German child's backplate circa 1520
Made for a child's armour. Remains of Nuremberg guild mark on the right shoulder. It has been heavily patched with well executed riveted patches. Culet associated.
seller claimed that this piece was formerly in the Joseph Kindig collection.
Ex. Coll. Bashford Dean. Sold as lot 279 in the Arms and Armor sale Parke-Bernet Galleries Oc 13 and 14 1943. It is listed in the catalogue as:
Child's Maximillian Backplate German circa 1510-20.With numerous close flutings of varying widths. Shows minor restoration. Nuremberg mark at shoulder. Composite garde-rein of two lames ornamented with eched bands. (Dean) Collection of Dr Bashford Dean. illustrated.
Not for sale.
Tasset terminal plate circa 1520
For the left leg. Decorated with large, deep flutes. Bottom edge with a simple raised ridge simulating a roll and two parallel raised lines in a recessed border. The bump and raised lines with engraved lines accenting each side. There are three full flutes in the center and two half flutes, one on each side. Flute style is typical of a style of Italian early 16th c. ala tadesca armor that mimiced the German "Maximilian" form. A breastplate in the Royal Armouries (III.1087) is decorated with this style of flute. There is a short edge bump simulating a roll on the inside edge. The outside edge just has an engraved line suggesting where a roll might be. The holes for a leather inside the bottom edge, a strap and buckle at the sides and for the rivets that would have secured the sliding rivet on the outside and leathers at the center and inside. Interior image shows aggressive delamination between an inner and outer layer at the upper edge. Significant losses in the center of the upper edge. It appears that there were originally cusps cut in the upper edge at the point of each flute. Significant scattered rust, more than just surface, on an originally smooth finish. After careful scrape cleaing of much of the rust the surface has an overall black finish. Rusted areas have caused pitting. Overall very interesting shape. Photos pre-scraping showing the rust as purchased.
Thickness mostly .060-.065 but thin spots down to .050 and a thick spot up to .084 (separated areas appear thicker).
Provenance: Joe Kindig Jr. (1891-1971) then by descent.
Not for sale.
Bottom plates from a pair of German Tassets circa 1520-30
of bright steel embossed and engraved in imitation of the slashed civilian clothing of the period. Each curved to the shape of the thigh, the lower edge (cracked) boldy roped and bordered by a recessed border defined by 2 ridges. The upper edge cusped in the center. Domed brass rivets replaced. Height 5 inches (12.8 cm).
Provenance F.H. Cripps-Day.
Exhibited Wilmer House Museum, Farnham, 3-29 April 1962, No. 8.
Feb. 10 2023-Feb. 29 2024 Orange County Historical Museum Hillsborough NC
Not for sale.
Tasset end plate circa 1530-1560
Single plate. Inward turned roll around the bottom edge extending up the sides. 2 keyhole slots at the top for attachment to the upper tasset plates. Embossed and recessed decoration with etching. Recessed border around the edge with etching. Central band of etching. Purportedly from the Madrid Real Armeria after the Spanish Civil War (according to the seller), also attributed possibly to the Lisbon armoury. The decoration on each side is a firesteel and stone creating fire. This symbol is associated with the Order of the Golden Fleece.
A slightly different form of the same image appears on the elbow wings of an armour for Philipp II of Spain that was made in 1544 by Desiderius Helmschmid (A 547 in the KHM). Another set of firesteels are found on elements of armor for Charles V in the Real Armeria in Madrid attributed to Kolman Helmschmid, Augsburg 1531 (A.108-A-111). These are very similar to the firesteels on the present piece, but the etching in the borders are not the same.
Exhibited: Feb. 10 2023-Feb. 29 2024 Orange County Historical Museum Hillsborough NC
Not for sale.
South-German Tassets mid 16th century
For a half armour. Seven lames, the upper four detachable. Creased center line. Hammered floral decoration on the terminal lame and leaf form decoration on the top lame. The bottom edge of the bottom lame of each segment with full rolls with fine roped decoration. the rolls on the terminal lame tapered and with a central bump. Lateral double decorative lines running up the sides. Decorative file work at the centers of the tops of the lames. Very nice, full form. Old leathers (one detatched from one plate). Old rivets and matching buckles (some tongues defective). The upper and lower sections secured by a keyhole slot and peg at the outside and a much smaller keyhole slot engaging a turning pin at the inside.
Decoration on the terminal lame similar to the decoration on the terminal lame of the tassets on item number 23 in the exhibition of Brunswick armor at the Tower of London April 10-October 31 1952. Those tassets have more lames and no decoration on the top plate. Overall form, terminal plate form and rolls and buckles also similar.
Exhibited: Feb. 10 2023-Feb. 29 2024 Orange County Historical Museum Hillsborough NC
Not for sale.
Tournament Visor circa 1550
Tournament visor formed of dished sheet pierced crudely with square and triangular holes. Signs of chisel over-strikes at the corners of holes. Ex. royal house of Hanover.
Not for sale.
Possibly part of a back/culet mid 16th c.
Possibly one end of a waist lame from a backplate with a broken culet section. Extensively damaged. For scale, I can place it on the back of my waist, and it does curl around appropriately. So it could work. If the guess is right, then there is a small piece of the corner of the backplate on a rivet at the top, the waist line is cracked and the culet lame also cracked in half and mising a section. The bottom of the culet lame with inward turned roped border and a tapering recess.
Not for sale.
Bevor/Buffe mid 16th c.
Typically associated with Brunswick armours of the mid 16th c. Relatively rare piece. The buff was secured to the breastplate instead of the more typical style that was strapped to the burgonet. This resembles the 15th c. bevors that were used with salades and other open faced helmets. Formed of 2 plates. The main plate with a hole to accept a peg on the breastplate, a raised roped ridge which would cover the rolled edge of the breastplate and shaped to the chin. The upper plate overlapping the main plate and rising to a point at the center. Inward turned roll at the upper edge. Each plate marked with seven center punch marks on the wearer's right side. The upper plate is held up with a spring catch in the lower plate. Depressing this allows the upper plate to drop. The surface is overall rough and pitted. It may originally have been rough from the hammer. The buff includes a mechanism to secure it to the breastplate. This includes a hook which would engage a hole in the peg in the breastplate. The hook is held in place by an external spring. Both the spring and hook are decorated with filed decoration (worn).
Similar items can be found in Churburg, KHM (A 1212 - S. 104 illustrated on plate 70 and A 499 - S-89f illustrated on plate 35 in KHM Waffensammlung V II and the what appears to be an earlier form in the Bayerisches National Museum (inv. no. W.646 illustrated on page 618 of The Knight and the Blast Furnace). Another highly decorated is illustrated on plate LV and catalogued as #119 in "The Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection of Armor and Arms" - Princeton University Press 1963.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1550-1570
One large central plate with small side plates under the arms and a separate culet of one plate. Overall blackened and rough from the hammer with raised bands at the center and sides, and recessed borders at the top, arms and bottom of the culet. Shoulder blades drawn out to relatively deep, rounded points. Top edge at the neck is straight - designed for use with a wide gorget with a straight lower edge at the back. This shape is indicative of a date early in the second half of the 16th c.
Not for sale.
Back plate circa 1550-1580
German. Black and white with recessed bands. Straight upper neck line for use with a deep collar, likely a pair of munions. Neck and arm holes bordered by narrow, inward turned, roped border. Three recessed white bands radiating from the waist and recessed bands at the neck and arm holes. Surface rough from the hammer and painted black. Bands polished bright. Single waist lame designed to carry a culet (missing). Marked at the neck with Nuremberg mark. There are pairs of small holes at the base of the rolls at the neck and arms which would have been used to secure a lining. These holes are normally associated with 17th c. wear, so this back was likely refitted for use after its initial manufacture and use.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1550-60
Backplate. Rough from the hammer. Inward turned heavily roped borders at the neck, arms and base of the single culet lame. All borders paralleled by an additional raised ridge. Losses to the right armhole which appear to be from corrosion. Apparently forms a cuirass with item number A-1-c. Displayed as part of item number A-1.
Measurements: Thickness:generally around .040" but with significant variation in thickness. Small areas .025", the upper area .07" and a little thicker.
Not for sale.
South German Armour Parts circa 1550-60
Pauldrons, fauld and tassets. All matching. Rolled and roped borders with parallel pairs of raised lines as border. Pauldrons of 6 upward-lapping lames in a particularly German fashion normally associated with Augsburg. Pauldron plates attached by leathers at most points. Fauld of 3 lames with sliding rivets and internal leathers including an edge leather for lining. Fauld with central crease and parallel lines at the ends of the plates. Center of bottom plate arched slightly with rolled and roped border. Matching tassets of 5 lames connected by sliding rivets at the outer edge and internal leathers at the center and inside. Tassets suspended from the fauld by 3 buckles each. Buckles with filed decoration. Rolled edges on the inside and bottom of the tasset plates. The pauldrons and tassets retain leather strips riveted inside the outer edge for securing the linings.
Not for sale.
Tasset end plate circa 1550-60
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.
Not for sale.
Chanfron circa 1550-80
Formed of one large plate covering two thirds of the front of the head, separate plates covering the ears and a central spike. The main plate is formed to the top of the head and with a raised ridge in the lower half. The upper and lower sections have a central roped ridge. The edges of the eye holes are raised. The main edges are decorated with simple half turns, the lower portion with a recessed border. There is a line of brass capped iron rivets with decorated washers to secure the lining. The central spike is secured to a central bolt secured to the inside of the main plate by two rivets. The spike is later, the decorative plate at the base of the spice appears to be old. The ear plates have a central crease, turned edge and recessed border. There are small patches in one ear plate and in the upper roped ridge. There are some flush rivets at the edge which would have secured the crinet and side plates.
Not for sale.
Terminal Fauld Lame circa 1560-70
Brunswick. Of plain form with inward roped border at the bottom rising in a low arch at the center. Pairs of holes at the top to secure tasset leathers and two holes at the center for an interior leather. The top with keyhole slots to allow it to be secured to and detached from a shorter fauld likely of one lame. Ex. Brunswick Ducal Armoury, Wolfenbuttel. Schloss Marienburg.
Not for sale.
Fauld circa 1560-70
Brunswick. Of two plates. The lower with inward rolled edge at the bottom and rising to a low arch at the center. The plates decorated by recessed polished bands at the center and middle of each side between a raised, rough from the hammer, originally blackened surface. With single holes at the top of the bottom plate to secure tasset leathers and a pair of holes at the center for an internal leather. Ex. Brunswick Ducal Armoury, Wolfenbuttel. Schloss Marienburg.
Not for sale.
Fauld circa 1560-70
Brunswick. Of two plates. The lower with inward rolled edge at the bottom and rising to a low arch at the center. The plates decorated by recessed polished bands at the center and middle of each side between a raised, rough from the hammer, originally blackened surface. With single holes at the top of the bottom plate to secure tasset leathers and a pair of holes at the center for an internal leather. Ex. Brunswick Ducal Armoury, Wolfenbuttel. Schloss Marienburg.
Not for sale.
Fauld circa 1560-70
Brunswick. Of two plates. The lower with a roped, inward turned roll on the central arch. Remains of four rivets with rosette washers to secure the tassets. The upper lame designed to be secured by a turning hook at each side to a breastplate or a shorter fauld. Ex. Brunswick Ducal Armoury, Wolfenbuttel. Schloss Marienburg.
Not for sale.
Italian Backplate circa 1560-80
Good form, designed for use without a fauld. Arm, neck and bottom edges with rolled and slightly roped borders. Arm and neck rolls formed over wire, the roll on the waist flare is smaller in diamer and shows no sign of ever having wire inside. Raised decorative bead running parallel to the arm holes and along the neck (descending at the center of the back). The decorative bead also roped. Engraved line at center - along the backbone. Rusted and cleaned.
Height (inside, neck hole to waist flare) 14 3/8 inches, width under arm holes 14 inches (narrowing to 13 1/4 at the very front edge), width at waist 11 inches, width of neck hole app. 9 1/2 inches, width at top 12 1/8 inches, the waist flare mostly app. 3/4 inch wide, narrowing at the center to 1/2 inch.
Thickness .020 in. to .050 in. Mostly .032 - .040. Thickness varies without any real pattern, possibly generally thinner at the most dished areas.
Not for sale.
Lance Rest circa 1560-80
Likely Italian. Good example of a hinged and spring loaded lance rest from the second half of the 16th c. Similar ones can be found on armors made in Italy and Germany, but the form of this one indicates that it is most likely Italian. The base plate is secured to the breast plate by two bolts. The rest is secured to the base plate by a tenoned plate. The rest hinges up. The rest includes a spring loaded lever that holds the rest in the down and up position. Includes 2 bolts and a plate that acts like a nut inside the breastplate. Compare in form to the much higher quality lance rest on A0060 and A0055 in the Wallace Collection.
Not for sale.
Buckle 2nd half of the 16th century
Made and mounted for use as a shoulder buckle on a breastplate. Cut from sheet and filed. Tongue formed from thinner sheet, tapering to a point. The mounting plate is attached to the rear portion of the buckle so that the strap can pass under the breastplate when in use. Most likely German
Not for sale.
Portion of the back of a brigandine late 16th c.
Formed of a large number of tinned plates secured to a fabric shell with copper alloy rivets. Originally covered the back, terminating at the waist. Rivets on each plate forming a single row. Consisting of a central band of tapering plates with scalloped upper edges over the spine and four columns of plates covering the remainder of the back. The remaining columns of plates tapering to the waist and then fitted to the armhole. Major losses, but most of one side remains along with much of the central band, the lower half of the other side and the outer two rows next to the arm. Even though fragmentary, it illustrates the typical construction of a 16th c. brigandine. Rivets are mostly clinched, reflecting the common method in brigandines. They are more like clinch nails than typical rivets, leading to a common name - armoring nayles. Initial investigation of the fabric cover indicates that it was originally composed of (at least) two layers of fabric - the inner a coarser, heavier weave and the outer a finer weave which seems to have remains of pile. Illustrated as purchased. Inside as displayed at the auction house, outside after it was initiallly opened up.
Measurements: Current weight app. 3 pounds 14 ounces. Thickness of some accessible plates: small separarate one .032 in., the other separate one .040-.065 in., a couple more that separate are .030-.045 in. Some of the thickness is likely due to rust. Realistically the plates were likely mostly .030-.060 in.
Not for sale.
Pair of tasset lower plates circa 1580
Narrow rolled decoration with fine roping. Short sections of sunk border with additional recessed flute. Embossed decoration. Black ground with polished raised decoration of stylized leaves, vines and zoomorphic heads. Looking carefully the pictures show a design change part way through the process. One of the tassets (pictured on the right) includes the outline for another set of points below center coming off of the sworls. The one on the left does not have these.
Measurements: weights 11.2 ounces (315g) and 10.8 ounces (305g). Thickness between .040 and .070 in., mostly .040-.055 in.
Exhibited: Feb. 10 2023-Feb. 29 2024 Orange County Historical Museum Hillsborough NC
Not for sale.
Tassets circa 1580
Two tassets each of five upward-lapping lames. Well matched in form, style and size. The rounded bottom edge of the final lame with a full inward turn and parallel ridge, each roped. The ends of each plate with roped half-rolls. Each tasset with a central crease and small filed notch at the center of the top edge. Remains of single engraved lines parallel to the upper edge of each plate. Upper edges also beveled. Tassets originally designed for 3 buckles, re-fitted for 2 buckles to match the fauld lame on the breastplate A-114b. Right tasset with 2 notch assembly marks on inside of the plates. These are located on the bottom of the plates - including the bottom plate where they are filed into the inside of the roll. Displayed as part of item number A-114. Right shows that the plates were originally secured by two leathers (front and center) and a line of sliding rivets at the outer edge. Left was originally different. It may have been constructed like the tassets on item number A-306 - with two lines of rivets (front and outside) and a central leather. When it was last assembled, it had two leathers (front and center) and pivoting rivets at the outside. There are enough spare holes which are empty or which contain rivets from various modern periods that the exact original configuration is not certain.
When purchased with the suit, these were coated inside and out in varnish. The images show what this looked like after several decades. It was not a wise decision. As the varnish aged, it cracked and rust formed underneath. The varnish has also browned. During a restoration (late 19th- mid 20th c. before or when the piece was varnished) rivets replaced. One leather replaced with solid rivets. Separated right tasset shows the state after removal of the structural (modern) rivets and a very light cleaning to remove the varnish and surface rust.
Thickness: Bottom plate of the right tasset - .040-.050, 4th plate of the right tasset - .035-.045, top plate .023-.040 (mostly .035).
Not for sale.
Crinet plates circa 1580
3 plates, most likely the second, third and fourth plates from the head. Decorated with raised ovals bridging the plates. Etched decoration overall in the recessed areas and a narrows band of roped etching around the ovals. Retaining many original rivets including 2 rivets with decorative washers for securing straps. The plates were originally secured with central sliding rivets and leathers on each side. Purportedly from the Lisbon armoury.
Not for sale.
Cheek plates circa 1580-1600
2 parts of a cheek plate - probably from a cabasset, possibly from a morion. These plates were originally of high quality. The rolled and roped border on the edges of the plates are tall, squared, and even. The roping is deep and crisp. The roll on the bottom plate is terminated cleanly with a step to allow the upper plate to overlap it. The bottom edge of the upper plate is cusped and beveled.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1580-1600
Simple back formed to the body with a narrow flare at the waist. Plain inward turns at the arms, neck and base of the flare. Single engraved lines at the neck and arm holes. Modern straps simulating buff at the shoulders and waist to secure the breastplate. Black rough from the hammer finish. Marked internally '14' matching the breast and tassets.
Not for sale.
Pair of Tassets circa 1580-1600
Consisting of six horizontal plates. Plates secured by rivets front and back and a (lost) central internal leather. Lower edge with a plain inward turned roll. Sides with simple bump simulating a roll. Top plates with three buckles (replaced) for suspension from the breastplate. Black rough from the hammer finish (refreshed with paint). Marked internally '14' matching the back and breast.
Thickness: Overall varies between .025 and .060 in. A closer analysis of each plate of the left tasset starting from the top shows: .042-.060 (little real pattern), .025-.045, .028-.055 (thicker at the outer side), .034-.055 (thicker at the outer side), .043-.060 (thicker at the outer side) and .026-032 on the terminal lame.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1580-1610
Formed to the shoulder blades. Flared at the waist. Inward turned rolled borders at the neck, base of the waist flare and armholes. The neck and waist rolls are lightly roped matching the breastplate. Straps at the shoulders to secure it to the breastplate. Waist belt secured to the sides of the backplate, the left side carrying a buckle. Surface rough from the hammer with (likely) later blackened finish. Size, shape and finish match the breastplate. Straps later. Shoulder straps matching those on the breastplate. Top of the backplate with a pair of crude holes. These seem to have been used to hang the armor for storage (working life or later). The waist belt seems to be an even later replacement than the other leathers.
Thickness: Generallly .050-.060 inch. Weight 4 pounds (1830g).
Not for sale.
Tassets circa 1580-1610
Not quite a pair. Each formed of five plates. The top plate with three buckles to attach the tassets to the breastplate. The bottom plates with an inward turned roll at the bottom edge. The medial edge with simple hollow ridge simulating a roll - this allows the plates to move on each other. Plates secured by two lines of rivets and one central leather (broken). The right has an extra rivet in the base plate under the front line of rivets and the rear is secured to the next plate by a sliding rivet. The roll at the bottom of the tassets roped matching the breast and back. There are light lines engraved in the plates - pairs paralleling the medial and lateral edges, three at the center and another pair paralleling the bottom edge.
Thickness - Left - top plate .050-.060 inch, second plate .040-.060 inch, third and fourth plates generally .030-.040 inch, terminal plate .049-.080 generally .065-.070 in. Weight: Left 1 pound 7 ounces (655g) right 1 pound 6.2 ounces (630g).
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1590
German. Nuremberg. The backplate is formed of 3 pieces and a separate culet plate. It appears to match the breastplate in form, decoration, mark, size and shape. The recessed bands on the sides have a crease at the center, the central band is flat. The bottom edge of the culet plate is cusped at the center. The main three plates of the backplate are certainly original and appear to have formed a cuirass with the breastplate. The culet lame may be later and the interior waist lame that joins them appears to be modern.
Measurements (in inches):
11 1/2 wide at the top, 12 wide at the center of the armhole (vertically). Thickness .050-.080, generally thicker at the waist and thinning toward the top. Side plates .040-050, mostly 040-045.
Not for sale.
Tassets circa 1590
German. Nuremberg. Knee length formed of seven plates which continue the recessed bands from the fauld at the center. There are raised bands on the inside edge continuing the central band from the fauld. The lower edge of the tassets is bordered by a recessed border and a tapered, inward turned and roped roll. Plates secured by sliding rivets at the outside and leathers at the inside and center. The tassets are secured to the fauld by later hinged metal mounts. There are signs of holes for earlier straps and buckles on each side and the center of the tassets with matching holes in the terminal fauld lame.
Measurements: 15 inches long, generally .050 thick, some spots thinner.
Not for sale.
Tasset circa 1590
Italian. Good quality tasset etched in the characteristic Pisan fashion. Formed of 13 plates - larger ones at the top and bottom and 11 narrow ones. Border with inward turned ropped rolls. Bottom plate with additional raised and roped ridge terminating in two raised medallions near the center. Retains some gilding. All rivets removed. Currently secured by temporary bolts.
Not for sale.
Italian Tassets 16th c. (2nd half)
Composed of 9 lames. The edges of the plates rolled and roped. The upper plate with 2 holes for the attachment of the suspension buckles. The plates secured to each other by a row of sliding rivets at the outer edge and 2 rows of leathers (expertly replaced in the past). The tassets have been etched in the 'Pisan' manner - with trophies of armor etc.
Not for sale.
Gorget with munions and tassets circa 1600
Comprising a gorget of 3 plates front and back with integral shoulder protection of 6 plates (munions) and a pair of long tassets. Each with recessed polished bands in the main and raised bands on the secondary edges. All parts cleaned and releathered. Munions and tassets retain buckles which appear to be replacements. The rolls on the bottom plate of the tassets taper from the center. The inner edges of the top 3 plates are rolled and have recessed borders. The edges of these plates curve around the area where the cod piece might be. The tassets are assembled using sliding rivets along the outer edge and leathers at the center and inside. The main front plate of the gorget is marked at the center on the outside with the city mark of Nurmberg, and on the inside with a backwards N in a circle.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1600-1640
Backplate. Probably German. High quality with engraved lines at the center of the back. Waist flared agressively. Rolled and roped borders on the arms, waist flare and neck. Arms, neck and waist flare also bordered by a shallow recessed band. Roped edges change angle of the roping at the middle reflecting higher quality work and more care than is usual on munition pieces. Hinged, threaded post at the waist for the attachment of a removable culet (rear portion of the fauld). This method of attachment is rarely illustrated since armours are not often illustrated from the back. For an illustration of this mechanism used to secure tassets to a breastplate see page 94-95 of Les armures des Rois de France au Musee de l'Armee (inv. G.196). The ends of the arm and waist rolls are stepped to allow the breastplate to overlap the backplate app. 3/4 inch. Remains of old cloth strip secured by rivets and washers inside the waist flare. Rivets are iron with brass caps. Rivets, washers and cloth appear to be working life. 2 brass-capped rivets on the right side of the waist with remants of leather remain. On the left side there is one rivet and one post with a horizontal hole (both with remains of leather as well). Rectangular iron roller buckles are secured to each shoulder by iron, sheet mounts. Height (neck to waist flare, inside) 14 1/2 inches, width at base of arm hole 12 5/8 inches, width at waist 11 inches, width of neck hole 6 3/8 inches, overall width at top 9 3/4 inches.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1600-20
Augsburg. One piece backplate with a tall separate waist lame with integral flare forming a simple culet. Backplate with inward turned plain rolls at the arm holes and an inward turn (over wire) at the neck that rises to a point in the center. Culet with plain inward turn at the bottom rising to a shallow point at the center and with small points at the sides. Inward turned rolls at the top and arm holes. Marked with Augsburg pine cone mark and maker's mark (a somewhat less distinct BN inside a possibly round recessed area) at the neck. No signs of internal construction markings, but with some external punch marks indicating the waist line and the center of the bottom edge of the main back plate. The back appears to have come from a somewhat taller armour than the breast.
Not for sale.
Tassets circa 1600-20
Augsburg. Well matched to the breastplate Consisting of 4 lames secured to the breast by three buckles each. The bottom edges of the tassets and the front edge of the upper plate each with plain inward turns. Each plate centrally creased and the top edges beveled. Secured by sliding rivets at the outside and leathers at the center and inside. The tassets match the fauld well enough that they may be original to the breast plate. The buckles are attached to the tassets by buckle plates with simple punched decoration. The tassets and fauld show no signs of having buckles or straps moved, but they have been reattached with later rivets. Thickness: measurements of each plate on the left tasset - top lame (with buckles) .031-.060 in., second lame .028-.056 in., third lame .037-.076 in., terminal lame (with the roll at the bottom) .037-.059 in.
Not for sale.
Backplate early 17th c.
Of typical form. Lightly rounded over the shoulder blades, the bottom edge flared at the waist. Neck, arms and bottom edge with internally rolled and roped border. Center accented with a line. Two buckles at the shoulders to secure the breastplate and (atypically) two buckles at the waist. The waist flare has a line of rivets securing what appear to be a leather strip cut to form a set of internal decorative tabs. Surface rough from the hammer. Lightly cleaned. All 4 buckles appear to be old, and in matched pairs but I expect that they are all later associations with this backplate.
Not for sale.
Pikeman's pot early 17th c.
Typical two piece skull joined at a low turned comb and extended to form a downturned brim. Struck with crowned A mark of the London Armourer's Company on one side near the base of the brim. Base of skull and edge of brim with lines of rivets. Outer edge of brim with a plain inward turned roll and a parallel engraved line. Small riveted internal patch at the edge of the brim at the left rear. Overall pitted surface
Not for sale.
Backplate early 17th c.
Formed to the back. Plain inward turns at the neck, arms and at the base of the culet flare. The rolls terminate under the arms and at the ends of the culet flare to allow for a clean underlap with the breastplate. These indicate that the piece was designed with an overlap of 3/4" on each side. Culet flare retaining one peg with transverse hole on the left side (a corresponding hole on the right side) to secure the culet. The right side at the waist retains a rivet and iron washer for the waist belt. Pairs of holes at each shoulder for shoulder staps. The width and side length matches the side of the breastplate obtained with it - item number A-366, they appear to actually form a cuirass.
Weight: 3 pounds 13.8 ounces (1750g).
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1640
One piece with integral collar. Flare at the waist. Rolls at the neck, arms and waist. Remains of stamps near the neck.
Not for sale.
Backplate circa 1640
One piece with integral collar. Flare at the waist. Rolls at the neck, arms and waist. Remains of stamps near the neck - IW and one less clear which appears to be an a surmounted with something (some version of the London Armourer's company mark). IW is recorded as registered to John Wright between 1637-1647 and also seems to have been used by Joseph Whorewood between 1648 and 1678.
Not for sale.
Tassets from a Pikeman's armour circa 1640
Formed of one piece with simulated lames. One a good modern copy.
Measurements: 12 1/4 in. wide at the bottom, 11 in. roll-to-roll at the top, 8 5/8 in. tall at the outside7 1/2 in. tall at the inside (measured just before the cut off corner).
Thickness: the right (authentic) one is .050-.065, most commonly about .060 in., the left (modern) one is app. .028 in.
Weight: right 1 pound 7.8 ounces (675 g), left 14.2 ounces (405 g).
Not for sale.
Buckle 17th century or later
Of iron, Decorated. With later metal mount. Round tongue
Not for sale.
Rondel circa ?
rondel for an armet. Heavily cusped edge, fluted. Rough. Pitted and cleaned. With central post for attachment to helmet
Not for sale.
Pikeman's Pot Mid 17th c.
Of typical form. Two piece skull secured by a rolled seam on a short comb at the top of the skull and an overlap in the brim and base of the skull. Decorated with a double line of engraved lines above and below the rivets along the lower edge of the skull. There is a single engraved line paralleling the comb. Wide brim turned down slightly at the sides. Edge of the brim with a plain inward turned roll (over wire) and recessed border. Brim marked at the rear with a cross of St. George. This appears to be a government mark from the period of the Commonwealth. There is a line of rivets for lining strips along the base of the skull and at the edge of the brim. There is a plain iron plume holder riveted to the back of the skull. The body of the skull and brim are covered in relatively rough grind or file marks. The pattern indicates that they may be from the original "bright" finish. The brim with a some later holes. Likely covered in older varnish or other coating.
Not for sale.
Backplate Mid 17th c.
Formed to the shoulders. Narrow flare at the waist. Rolls at the neck, arms and base of the flare. Marked with 'IR' and 'IC' marks possibly by John Collins.
Not for sale.