An breastplate I bought relatively early in collecting. I stared at it for years and the proportions just looked wrong. A collector/dealer convinced me to sell it to him and I did a little bit of restoration to add a fauld lame (marked with my initials and the date) and hang tassets he owned so that it could become part of a suit. I looked at enough armour after I sold it to determine that it is an example of a mid 16th c. style of breastplate that is relatively rare. I probably shouldn't have parted with it.
(formerly in the collection)Italian Breastplate circa 1580
Roped borders at neck and arm holes. Sliding gussets at arm holes. 2 lower lames at waist. Recessed border at neck. [inv. num. A-16]