Breastplate from a Siege Cuirass
Cultureprobably
German
Cultureor
Austrian
Date1590–1600
Mediumsteel, brass, black paint
Dimensions57.2 × 48.3 × 21 cm (22 1/2 × 19 × 8 1/4 in.), 24 lb, 10 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.4.1
DescriptionVery large, and of heavy, black-painted proof steel. It is of vestigal peascod form, with deep curved arms & neck openings having plain turns, & followed by a row of large domed rivets. Low full-length medial ridge, framed by double band of incised lines. A similar set extends from the arms to the waistline. Basal flange dips to the fork, with turned edge & incised lines as above, the band filled by domed rivets. Several plugged holes suggest the locations of posts or mounts for a plackart. At least eight bullet dents; one of these might be a proof mark. Domed studs on chest for shoulder straps.At the midpoint there is a patched repair in the back, of very thick metal, almost certainly a working-life fix. Traces of the damage can be seen on the front, which was probably hammered back into shape as part of the repair.
Label TextAs firearms improved, armor struggled to keep up. This extremely heavy breastplate was designed for siege use. The thick iron provided excellent protection against bullets in the trench warfare of a siege, but it was too heavy for a soldier marching around on a battlefield. The broad, shallow indentation over the heart is probably a “proof mark.” The manufacturer fired a musket at the breastplate to prove it could resist a bullet. The additional bullet marks on the surface show that this armor saved its owner’s life more than once. ProvenanceArchduke Eugen's Armory, Fortress Hohenwerfen, Salzburg, Austria Purchased by John W. Higgins on March 3, 1927 from Anderson Galleries (NY), their # 670. Given to the Museum on December 26, 1946. Collection Transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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