Backplate
Culture
Northern Italian
, Milan
Date1560–1570
Mediumsteel (once blued) with gilding, brass, and iron with modern leather
Dimensions41 × 32 × 17 cm (16 1/8 × 12 5/8 × 6 11/16 in.), 3 lb, 14 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.12.3
DescriptionOf one nearly boxed piece, without gussets and presently fitted with a riveted one-piece culet. It is embossed for the shoulder-blades, each bossing of which has a low vertical ridge that extends nearly straight down to the waist, producing an ovoid hollow between them. The upper half of the plate curves deeply at the armpits and extends over the tops of the shoulders. These are squared and are each fitted with a modern leather shoulder-strap in a hole that probably originally held a buckle. The wide neck opening is shallow-curved, and like the armpits, has an inward hollow-turned, chisel-roped finish with traces of gilding. All openings are bordered with a low embossed, guilloche-etched and gilded rib between which is a trophy-filled broad band. Below the armpits, the lower half of the backplate extends straight to the waist, and tapers as it curves around the sides which are straight-cut and without decoration. At the waist, the sides are fitted with a twice-riveted, restored strap with contemporary bilobate iron buckle. Because of the leather, it cannot be seen if the right side may have secured a buckle as found on Naples example 4010-4011 (Boccia/Coelho, fig. 359).
The backplate is decorated en suite with the breastplate.
The lower edge is drawn out into a narrow, downturned basal flange, near the ends of which is riveted the culet lame. This is shaped to the body, and is of nominally equal depth from the straight-cut unturned ends, to mid-length where it rises to a low cusp on the basal edge which is inwardly-turned over a wire core and chisel-roped. The lame is decorated en suite with the front skirt, except for the band bordering the turned edge which is trophied. Like the skirt, the fit is less than perfect, and difficulties in aligning the cuirass halves at this point suggest that one lame may be lost between the culet and flange, or that the culet itself may be from another very similar armor.
ProvenanceEarls of Pembroke and Montgomery (Wilton House, Wiltshire, England) to 14 June 1923 Joseph Duveen, their no. 28637. Purchased by John W. Higgins on 18 January 1928. Given to the Armory on 21 March 1928. Collection tarnsfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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