Breastplate

Artist workshops of Wolf and Peter von Speyer , or (Germany)

Artist Wolf Peppinghorn (Saxony, Germany)

Dateabout 1590–1600

MediumSteel, iron, leather and black paint with original fire-blueing

Dimensions53 × 43 × 20 cm (20 7/8 × 16 15/16 × 7 7/8 in.), 12 lb, 6 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsBelow each of the notches, the breastplate is marked with a single, punched dot, at arms and neck openings.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1154.3

Description(* Breastplate) Well-made, and of the full-sided late 'peascod' shape with full-length medial ridge, and one fauld. The surface beneath the reinforcing breast preserves most of the fire-blueing. The neck opening is slightly depressed, and like those of the deep, curved arms without gussets, has an outwardly-turned, file-roped edge notched at mid-length. Beaten up over the front of the shoulders, the breast has wide, straight-cut terminals fitted with large oblong tongued buckles with rollers, secured by three rivets tinned (?) within. The surface of the breast is pierced with four threaded large holes - one below and to the right of the neck, for a screw of the reinforcing-bevor; a vertical pair below, near the arm, for the lance-rest; and a single hole below the left armpit for the bolt of the reinforcing-breastplate.

Below the arms, the rear edges are vertical, bevelled, and pierced at mid-height, possibly for a lost fastener to the backplate. At the waist, the breastplate is drawn out in a downturned, bluntly pointed curved flange. Moderately deep, this has an incised and file-roped edge bordered by flush lining-rivets and leather band within.

Riveted near the ends of the flange is an associated fauld lame. While this closely resembles the breastplate, the fit is less-than-perfect, was once detachable via keyhole slots under the modern rivets, and may be related to the pasguard which is associated to the left vambrace. The lame has shallow recessed, wide bands at the sides, and a narrow recessed band below, with the plain edge inwardly turned over a wire core.

There is a low arc to the fork, bordered by a roped edge and cusped, recessed band. The top edge of the lame is bevelled, and on either side this is fitted with a set of three modern leathers for the tassets.

The silvered bands are found at the neck and armor openings.
ProvenanceDresden "Rüstkammer" Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony (to 1925) Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I.) (his A-31). Purchased by the Armory on 27 July 1939 at Mackay sale, Christie's (London), lot 54 (with shaffron HAM# 2550). Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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