Left Pauldron

Culture Northern Italian , Milan

Date1560–1570

Mediumsteel (once blued) with gilding, brass, and iron with modern leather

Dimensions23 × 22 × 29 cm (9 1/16 × 8 11/16 × 11 7/16 in.), 3 lb, 6 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.12.6

DescriptionThis is well shaped to the body, and is constructed of a mainplate that extends well over the chest and the shoulderblade, with two lames above and four below all overlapping away from the central lame. The mainplate is rounded at the squarish corners, with triangular flanges at the armpits, and is roundly bossed for the shoulderblade. The top edge of the lame curves up to a low cusp and a full-length medial ridge, itself cut with a V-shaped nick at the edges of this and other lames. The periphery of the pauldron is embossed with a low, embossed and guilloched rib between a set of narrow double recessed bands, terminates in a volute at either side of the medial ridge on the mainlame. At the center of each volute is a circular medallion etched with a 'Roman' bust. The broad recessed bands formed between the rib and the inwardly turned, chisel-roped edge are acid-etched with trophies on the gilded ground, as is the medial area of all lames except the terminal one.

The band around the pauldron is filled with a row of nineteen restored (1 iron original) brass rivets and circular steel washers. The top edge of the mainlame, that above and the lower edge of those below are etched with the tendril-filled design. Centered on the front and rear faces of the mainlame are oblong lobated strapwork cartouches, filled with a manneristic symmetrical group of trophies on the granular gilded ground. The cartouches are themselves framed by etched and gilded leaf-like borders.

The top two lames are riveted together at their ends, and articulate on these and a short pair of longitudinal leathers between the mainplate and the lame above. Riveted to the mainplate at mid-height along the medial ridge is another leather which is riveted in turn to a pendant set of four narrow, curved lames. The topmost of these is riveted to the pauldron and its neighbors, working on the leathers and sliding rivets at the rear; there was once an anterior leather, but this is now lost, and the lames riveted together. The upper three lames are pointed at the hollow-flanged and guilloche-etched ends; the basal lame has rounded corners and is inwardly turned and chisel-roped on the lower edge. At the ends, this lame is fitted with a transverse strap and oval iron buckle at the rear, for securing the vambrace. A bilobated iron buckle, riveted to the top lame at the medial line just below the rib, engages the strap from the collar.
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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