Ceremonial Half-Armor with "Repoussé" Decoration

Ceremonial Half-Armor with "Repoussé" Decoration

Artistdecorative motives attributed to Étienne Delaune (German, about 1519–1583)

Culture French

Dateabout 1580-1610

Mediumsteel with traces of gilding, leather

Dimensionsmounted: 67.3 cm (26 1/2 in.), 19 lb, 10 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.70

DescriptionConsists of breastplate with tassets, backplate, and associated arm-harness. The armor is lacking helmet, collar, gauntlets and leg defenses (if these were ever fitted, though the 1862 catalogue entry mentions "genouilleres"). The breast and back match each other, and the arms match the tassets, based on the different border motifs in each group (scrolling in the former, guilloche in the latter).

Cuirass unrelated to the other components displayed. Breastplate and backplate were cut down to present, short, slightly dipped form. Both embossed overall with classical figures & Mannerist decorations. Central motif is of Mars and Venus, other decorations include putti, stags, classically armed warriors blowing trumpets. Waist lame embossed with similar motives.

Tassets: oblong form, concave to body, and of 7 lames slightly recurved on inner edges, and overlapping to waist. Tassets have nearly identical decoration of armed warriors, snails and vegetation.

Arm defenses unrelated to above except in general design and decorative motives. Borders at cuffs, elbow-openings, couters and pauldron edges have simple etched intertwined guilloche. Pauldrons are symmetrical; rounded, consisting of main-lame with 3 lames above and 4 below, all overlapping away from mainplate. Riveted vambrace "tulip" shape, of 2 hinged halves with bracelet cowters (R restored). Decoration of arms is near-identical to other elements.

14D x 26W as mounted
Label TextEvery inch of this armor is covered with figures, scrolls, and other decorative themes hammered in low relief. The background was originally gilded to enrich the surface and contrast with the relief decoration. The central concept is the union of Love and War, symbolized by the Roman gods Venus and Mars, who reach out to each other in the middle of the breastplate. The message is that the wearer is a warrior on the battlefield but a courtier in times of peace. This armor was purely for ceremonial purposes—the hammered decoration has weakened the metal, making it unsuited for combat. It probably never included a helmet, being designed to go with a fashionable hat. It was made around 1580, but its shape was altered in the early 1600s to keep up with fashion trends.ProvenanceHollingworth Magniac (London), as of 1850-1862 Duveen Brothers (NY) Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I.). Purchased by the Armory on 27 July 1939 from Christie, Manson and Woods (London) at the Clarence Mackay sale, lot 58. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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