Left Cuisse

Culture French

Date1610–1620

Mediumsteel with modern blueing, brass, gold, and fabric with modern leather and restorations

Dimensions78 × 28 × 12 cm (30 11/16 × 11 × 4 3/4 in.), 8 lb, 2 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.18.7

DescriptionLong laminated two-part cuisses of 16 lames with poleyns, detachable at the fifth lame up from the poleyn. Lames articulate on sliding rivets on outside, leathers at middle and inside. Attaches to the breastplate flange with domed studs, and turning pins in keyhole-shaped slots--attachment lame is restored, probably due to damage at points of attachment. Top 3 lames below attachment lame are thicker than those below, and extra holes on the lowest of these suggest that there may be a missing lame for a second point of detachment. The top lame on the poleyn extension on the right cuisse has 3 unexplained holes along its lower edge. Numerous brass decorative and functional rivets. Upper edges of lames are scalloped as pauldrons. Embossed medial sunken bands, terminated in a fleur-de-lys foliate motif on lame above poleyns. Rose decoration on face of poleyn central lame. Heart-shaped side-wing.
ProvenanceComte de Belleval, sold anonymously Paris April 15-16 1872, lot 46; Frederic Spitzer (Paris); Sold in Paris 1893. Purchased by John W. Higgins on January 12, 1929 at Anderson Galleries (NY), Spitzer sale, lot 673. Given to the Museum on March 1, 1929. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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