Field Armor from a Garniture
Artist
Pompeo della Cesa
(Milan, about 1537–1610)
Dateabout 1595
Mediumsteel, brass, gold, silver, leather, fabric
DimensionsWeight: 47 lb., 15 oz
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.112
DescriptionClose-helmet with 2-piece visor. 1-piece skull, with roped medium comb, and brass plume holder. Restored gorget of 2 halves, pivoting on rivet & secured by stud in keyhole-shaped slot. Breastplate of full-bellied "peascod" shape, dipping slightly below waist. Neck & armpit turns roped & without gussets. Single removable skirt lame. Removable lance rest. Restored backplate of short, broad, rounded form. Single removable loin-guard. Straps at waist & buckles at shoulders. Tassets of 6 lames each. Irregular trapezoidal form, rounded lower lame, low medial ridge. Cuisses of 8 plates each, upper 2 articulated. Attached poleyns with small oval side-wing. Pauldrons asymmetrical, of 7 lames each, rounded in appearance. Full, riveted vambraces with closed cowters. Greaves of open form, hinged on outer face, with buckles & straps. Attached restored sabatons; the greaves were actually designed to be worn with mail foot-coverings. Fingered gauntlets with pointed, flared cuffs. Modern spurs with large, 6-pointed rowels.The entire armor is decorated with a diaper-like etched pattern, once gilt. The cartouches enclose one of three basic motifs: a Medusa head with intertwined serpents; a winged lightning bolt design reminiscent of that found on Roman "scuta"; a downturned barbed trident, mounted by a pair of intertwined dolphins. Each cartouche is formed as a layered centrally rounded arch, the borders of which are formed of a single helix motif between a pair of low-relief narrow lines. (The junctions of the cartouches are modeled as tri-petaled floral designs.) Bands of major borders are similarly treated, filled however with a variety of human, grotesque, classical, floral forms and military trophies. The well-worn gilding appears to be of later date.
22D x 31W as mounted.
Label TextThis suit of armor is for the field of battle, but with the substitution of various “pieces of exchange,” it could be fashioned for different purposes for tournament sports on foot or on horseback. The surface is richly patterned with designs derived from ancient Roman art.ProvenanceCollection of von Herberstein-Duveen Brothers (NLT 1888) George Donaldson (ca. 1888-1900) George J. Gould (after 1900-1924) Duveen Brothers (1924-28) Purchased by John Higgins from Duveen Brothers 18 January 1928. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on view
Desiderius Helmschmid
about 1552
Michel Witz the Younger
1530s
