Right Vambrace

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

Artist Wolf Peppinghorn (Saxony, Germany)

Dateabout 1590–1600

MediumSteel, iron, leather and black paint

Dimensions43 × 20 × 14 cm (16 15/16 × 7 7/8 × 5 1/2 in.), 3 lb, 10 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1154.8

Description(** Vambrace) The vambraces are a near-symmetrical pair which seem to belong to the pauldrons. Each consists of a rotating upper cannon riveted to a laminated closed-bracelet couter, in turn riveted to a tapered lower cannon of two hinged halves. The upper cannon rotates in an embossed, roped turner. The upper cannon and turner are riveted up their inner faces. The turner has a low race, with a curved pair of articulating lames on the outer face, with a restored leather tab for arming-points. A restored leather loop is riveted on the inner face for the transverse strap of the pauldron. The opening at the top is inwardly turned and well-roped. A low ridge extends from the upper cannon down the rear medial line of the vambrace to the opening for the hand. The arched cut-outs on the upper and lower cannons at the bend of the arm are outwardly turned and closely roped. The upper of the left vambrace has a curved extension-plate riveted in place to better defend the joint. These openings are bordered by shallow recessed plain bands.

The couter has a one-piece mainlame riveted up the inner face, and bossed out in a rounded point at the elbow where it is further embossed with a flower of eight petals. Nearly centered on the outer face of the left couter is a riveted, threaded stud for a "pasguard" or elbow reinforce. The stud has been re-threaded, and now has a modern wing-nut. The lame encircles the bend of the arm as a closed couter with heart-shaped side-wings, the outer set being larger. The roped, inwardly-turned edges of these are bordered with the double recessed bands, and there is a close-set pair of narrow, incised lines across the bend of the arm. The mainlame overlaps a pair of narrow laminations above and below, and are riveted on nearly flush rivets at the straight or bluntly-pointed ends.

The lower cannon halves are twice-hinged on the inner face. These (one long, one short) are concealed in notched, bevelled edges. The hinged half snaps into its mate, with a set of short lugs (the lower of which are pierced for lost pivot-hooks) engaging holes on the pivoted half. The hinged half of each is pierced with a longitudinal set of punched holes, the purpose of which is not clear, except that they may have been used to secure the gauntlets when previously displayed. The opening for the hand is angled forward, with an inwardly turned, roped edge bordered by the double recessed bands.

Traces of blueing can be seen under the paint. There are also traces of a silvered band along the medial ridge of the lower cannon and adjacent lames of the L vambrace. The cowter mainplates on both, especially the R, show taces of what may be silver-inlaid lines running parallel to the edge. Similar decoration can be detected on the articulating lames of the cowter.

While the pauldrons and vambraces fit well, the form of the vambraces, and modifications to the left vambrace (such as the added plate and threaded stud) suggest that the arms may have been from a heavy cavalry armor modified for use in this course.
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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